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General Otolaryngology (ENT Ear, Nose & Throat)
California Sinus Centers and Institute are the premier centers for advanced sinus-related care in Northern California. We also see patients from across the West Coast and several International locations.
How are ear, nose, and throat specialists trained?Otolaryngologists are ready to start practicing after completing up to 15 years of college and post-graduate training. To qualify for certification by the American Board of Otolaryngology, an applicant must first complete college, medical school (usually four years), and at least five years of specialty training. Next, the physician must pass the American Board of Otolaryngology examination. In addition, some otolaryngologists pursue a one- or two- year fellowship for more extensive training in one of eight subspecialty areas.These subspeciality areas are pediatric otolaryngology (children), otology/neurotology (ears, balance, and tinnitus), allergy, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck, laryngology (throat), rhinology (nose), and sleep. Some otolaryngologists limit their practices to one of these eight areas. What are the seven areas of expertise in the field of otolaryngology?Otology/Neurotology: diseases of the ear, including trauma (injury), cancer, and nerve pathway disorders, which affect hearing and balance.Treating: ear infection; swimmer’s ear; hearing loss; ear, face, or neck pain; dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Pediatric Otolaryngology: diseases in children with special ENT problems including birth defects of the head and neck and developmental delays. Treating: ear infection (otitis media), tonsil and adenoid infection, airway problems, Down’s syndrome, asthma and allergy/sinus disease. Head and Neck: cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the head and neck, including the thyroid and parathyroid. Treating: lump in the neck or thyroid, cancer of the voice box. Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: cosmetic, functional, and reconstructive surgical treatment of abnormalities of the face and neck. Treating: deviated septum, rhinoplasty (nose), face lift, cleft palate, drooping eyelids, hair loss. Rhinology: disorders of the nose and sinuses. Treating: sinus disorder, nose bleed, stuffy nose, loss of smell. Laryngology: disorders of the throat, including voice and swallowing problems. Treating: sore throat, hoarseness, swallowing disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Allergy: treatment by medication, immunotherapy (allergy shots) and/or avoidance of pollen, dust, mold, food, and other sensitivities that affect the ear, nose, and throat. Treating: hay fever, seasonal and perennial rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, laryngitis, sore throat, otitis media, dizziness. How do I select a doctor to do the surgery?Your primary care physician will refer you to a surgeon they are familiar with and respect and whom they trust to manage your disease. The local and state medical societies also keep lists or directories of physicians in their regions. There are also listings of board-certified otolaryngologists on several websites. Local magazines may also publish "best doctor" lists that you can consult. Other people with sinus problems may also be a good resource.Important factors to take into account when selecting a surgeon are the amount of experience they have performing the surgery, how often they perform the surgery, and the rapport they establish with you. If you have already had sinus surgery and the problem has returned or gotten worse, you may wish to seek out the opinion of an otolaryngologist who has additional training in the subspecialty of rhinology. Though there are relatively few fellowship-trained specialists in rhinology, they can usually be found in larger cities and in university medical centers. Patient Information for General Otolaryngology
California Sinus Centers has provided our existing patients and new patient with a wealth of sinus education and resources below. If you have further questions or would like to make an appointment please contact us directly.
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