The ENT (otolaryngologist) is the doctor who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose and throat. It can therefore treat, for example, ear infections, hearing loss, voice disorders, sleep apnea, etc.
The ENT sphere includes face, nose, sinuses, ear (external, middle and internal), the whole throat (mouth, tongue, larynx, trachea), salivary glands, neck and thyroid gland. It is therefore a complex specialty: in addition to being interested in hearing, voice, smell and taste, otolaryngology also encompasses breathing, sleep disorders, balance and even facial aesthetics.
What is the meaning of ENT doctor?
ENT stands for otolaryngologist. The ENT doctor is so a specialist in ENT disorders, “a medical specialty that is extremely vast: we treat everything on the face, part of the head, the ears, and also the neck“, explains Nathalie Aisenberg, ENT specialist in phoniatry and sleep doctor. This is why there are specialists depending on the organs: rhinologists, vestibulometrists, otologists, audiometrists. “It is one of the only medico-surgical specialties. This means that the organ can be treated with drugs as well as with surgery.“.
Who can go to the ENT?
ENT works with children, adults and the elderly. “Every day we see patients with different problems“, explains our interlocutor. The medical field is therefore very wide: ENT can be consulted in the event of disorders of the organs of the ENT sphere, due to trauma, malformations, aging or infectious pathologies. It is also able to support thyroid pathologies, duct cysts, but also benign tumors and cancers. In terms of cosmetic surgery of the face, he performs septoplasties, rhinoplasties, etc. Finally, he also practices snoring surgery. In children, it treats the same kind of pathologies that affect the face, ears, nose and throat, but this is more complicated: it takes patience. “Child’s audio is complicated, and not very reliable. That takes time“, explains the doctor. That is why there are Specialized ENT for children.
For which diseases can one go to the ENT?
The pathologies and symptoms that can lead to consulting an ENT specialist are extremely varied:
- sore ears,
- blocked ears,
- recurrent ear infections,
- buzzing,
- tinnitus,
- dizziness,
- snoring,
- sinusitis,
- loss of smell and taste,
- excessive salivation,
- difficulty swallowing or breathing,
- language disorders,
- angina,
- runny ear,
- tongue brake…
Is a prescription required (compulsory) to go to the ENT?
It is advisable to seek a general practitioner (general practitioner) beforehand, to have a prescription and to be referred to an ENT specialist if necessary. IIt is always possible to consult an ENT without a prescription. Nevertheless, the cost of the consultation with an ENT without addressing his attending physician is higher and is less well reimbursed by health insurance.
During a consultation, the ENT specialist begins by asking the patient about their symptoms and their personal and family history. If the patient has already undergone examinations prescribed by the general practitioner, he will analyze them. He then proceeds to an examination of the affected organ, to assess the nature of the disorder and its severity. Depending on the case, the specialist may also request additional examinations to establish his diagnosis. At the end of the consultation, the ENT makes its first conclusions. He prescribes the appropriate care, and may request a new visit if the patient’s state of health requires follow-up.
You have to think about bringing the health record : “it allows you to see the entire history of the child’s illnesses. Sometimes, just by reading the health record, I understand what pathology he has“, explains Nathalie Aisenberg. “Sometimes, there are rules to follow, depending on the examinations: if I have to do allergy tests, for example, he must not have taken anti-allergic treatments. If I have to do a fibroscopy to a boob, he must be fasting for three hours…“It all depends on the consultations. For adults, bring all its check-ups also facilitate the work of the ENTbecause it avoids wasting time asking questions again.
What is the cost of an ENT appointment? Is it reimbursed?
The price of consultations with an ENT specialist varies enormously depending on the specialty of the doctor, the acts performed and whether or not he is contracted. For a ENT attached to sector 1, the price of a consultation is 30 €. These fees are reimbursed by Health Insurance up to 70%, provided you follow the coordinated care pathway: for this, you must consult the attending physician before making an appointment. In the event of a long-term illness (ALD), it is possible to consult an ENT specialist directly while benefiting from health insurance coverage. The rest of the bill is reimbursed by your mutual, according to the rates to which you have subscribed.
What studies to become an ENT?
Becoming an ENT doctor requires patience, since it will take 11 to 13 years of study. To begin, once the baccalaureate is in your pocket, you have to pass the entrance examination to the classical cycle of medical studies. Once in the 6th year, after passing the ECN (National Ranking Tests), you will then have to specialize in otolaryngology, which will take another 5 years. “We are trained on the medical side (pathologies, medical treatments), and our internship is done in surgery, where we learn to operate“, details the specialist. If the candidate wishes to over-specialize, for example in oto-neurosurgery (surgery of the inner ear and the temporal bone), in rhinology (diseases and surgery of the nose and sinuses) or in phoniatrics (disorder of speech and swallowing), it will take another two years of study.After his thesis, the candidate finally obtains the title of Doctor of Medicine.
Thanks to Dr Nathalie Aisenberg, ENT specialist in phoniatry and sleep doctor.