Neurotology

{{Short description|Head and neck surgery (otorhinolaryngology) subspecialty}}

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{{Infobox occupation

| name= Neurotologist

| image=

| caption=

| official_names= Doctor, Medical practitioner

| type= Profession

| activity_sector= Medicine

| competencies=

| formation= Degree in Medicine

| employment_field= Hospitals, clinics

| related_occupation= Otology

| average_salary=

}}

Neurotology or neuro-otology is a subspecialty of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery, also known as ENT (ear, nose, and throat) medicine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.entnet.org/content/otologyneurotology|title=Position Statement: Otology/Neurotology|date=20 March 2014|website=American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery|language=en|access-date=9 January 2020}} Neuro-otology is closely related to otology, clinical neurology{{Cite book|title=Neuro-otology|editor1-last=Furman|editor1-first=Joseph M.|editor2-last=Lempert|editor2-first=Thomas|isbn=978-0-444-63447-4|location=Amsterdam|publisher=Elsevier|series=Handbook of Clinical Neurology|volume=137|date=2016|others=Michael J. Aminoff, François Boller, and Dick F. Swaab (series eds.)|oclc=958650847|quote=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.}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/otology-and-neurotology/|title=Otology and Neurotology|website=University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center|language=en|access-date=1 January 2020}} 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".{{Cite web|url=https://www.umms.org:443/ummc/health-services/hearing-balance/what-is-otologist-neurotologist|title=What is an Otologist or Neurotologist?|website=University of Maryland Medical Center|language=en|access-date=9 January 2020|quote=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.}}

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.