Neurotology Explained

Neurotologist
Official Names:	Doctor, Medical practitioner
Type:	Profession
Activity Sector:	Medicine
Formation:	Degree in Medicine
Employment Field:	Hospitals, clinics
Related Occupation:	Otology

Neurotology or neuro-otology is a subspecialty of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery, also known as ENT (ear, nose, and throat) medicine.^[1] Neuro-otology is closely related to otology, clinical neurology^[2] and neurosurgery.

Otology may refer to ENT physicians who "... [study] normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the ear (hearing and vestibular sensory systems and related structures and functions) ...", and who treat diseases of the ear with medicine or surgery.^[3] In some instances, otology and neurotology are considered together—as so closely related that a clear demarcation between the subspecialties might not exist. For example, the University of Maryland Medical Center uses the term, "otologist/neurotologist".^[4]

Otologists and neurotologists have specialized in otolaryngology and then further specialized in pathological conditions of the ear and related structures. Many general otolaryngologists are trained in otology or middle ear surgery, performing surgery such as a tympanoplasty, or a reconstruction of the eardrum, when a hole remains from a prior ear tube or infection. Otologic surgery includes treatment of conductive hearing loss by reconstructing the hearing bones, or ossicles, as a result of infection, or by replacing the stapes bone with a stapedectomy for otosclerosis. Otology and neurotology encompass more complex surgery of the inner ear not typically performed by general otolaryngologists, such as removal of vestibular schwannoma, cholesteatoma, labyrinthectomy, surgery of the endolymphatic sac for Ménière's disease and cochlear implant surgery.

Education and training

It is more and more common in the United States as well as around the world for otolaryngologists to obtain additional advanced training in neurotology, which requires an additional one or two years of fellowship training after the usual five years of residency.

Conditions

Conditions treated by neurotologists include:

• Vestibular (balance) diseases, such as Ménière's disease and vestibular neuronitis
• Skull base tumors, such as vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma)
• Facial nerve disorders, including facial nerve paralysis
• Hearing loss and deafness
• Certain conditions relating to the skull base

See also

• Otology
• Audiology
• Clinical neurology
• Otolaryngology
• Speech–language pathology

Notes and References

1. Web site: Position Statement: Otology/Neurotology. 20 March 2014. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. en. 9 January 2020.
2. Book: Neuro-otology. Furman. Joseph M.. Lempert. Thomas. 978-0-444-63447-4. Amsterdam. Elsevier. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. 137. 2016. Michael J. Aminoff, François Boller, and Dick F. Swaab (series eds.). 958650847. Neuro-Otology: a volume in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology series, provides a comprehensive translational reference on the disorders of the peripheral and central vestibular system. The volume is aimed at serving clinical neurologists who wish to know the most current established information related to dizziness and disequilibrium from a clinical, yet scholarly, perspective..
3. Web site: Otology and Neurotology. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. en. 1 January 2020.
4. Web site: What is an Otologist or Neurotologist?. University of Maryland Medical Center. en. 9 January 2020. An otologist/neurotologist is a board-certified otolaryngologist who provides medical and surgical care of patients, both adult and pediatric, with diseases that affect the ears, balance system, temporal bone, skull base, and related structures of the head and neck..