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What We Certify

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

A physician in this specialty, called an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon, focuses on the head and neck area. They provide evaluation and management (medical and surgical) for patients with diseases, disorders, and injuries of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. 

An otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon may treat:

  • The ear, for example: hearing loss, infections, balance disorders and dizziness, ringing (tinnitus), genetic disorders, and tumors/growths

  • The nose, for example: sinus infections, smell disorders, nasal polyps, nasal obstruction such as from deviated septum, nosebleeds, plastic and reconstructive surgery of the nose (rhinoplasty), and tumors/growths

  • The throat, for example: diseases of the voice box (larynx) and the upper swallowing passage (pharynx and cervical esophagus), as well as hoarseness, taste disorders, breathing difficulties, swallowing disorders, cough, and tumors/growths

Otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons also treat many ailments and illnesses that involve a combination of the above, which include but are not limited to allergies, infections, trauma, deformities, tumors (cancerous and benign), snoring and sleep apnea, issues related to the immune system, neck endocrine diseases (thyroid and parathyroid), problems related to nervous system diseases, and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery needs.

It has been said that otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons treat all conditions “from the dura to the pleura” – signifying from just below the brain to just above the lungs and in front of the cervical spine.

Neurotology

A neurotologist is a subspecialist within otolaryngology-head and neck surgery who has completed additional ACGME-accredited fellowship training and passed an exam focused on diseases of the lateral skull base. These subspecialists work at the interface of the dura, and commonly collaborate with neurosurgeons.

The neurotologist should have command of the core knowledge and understanding of:

  •  The basic medical sciences relevant to the temporal bone, lateral skull base and related structures

  • Advanced diagnostic expertise and advanced medical and surgical management skills for the care of diseases and disorders of the petrous apex, infratemporal fossa, internal auditory canals, and lateral skull base

Sleep Medicine

Sleep medicine is covered on the initial certification process for otolaryngology-head and neck surgery and many diplomates in the primary specialty take care of patients (adult and children) with sleep disordered breathing problems. ABOHNS diplomates who become subcertified in sleep medicine have extra ACGME-accredited fellowship training and focus their practice on the diagnostic, medical, and surgical needs of sleep medicine patients. The sleep medicine specialist will have advanced diagnostic expertise and management skills for the care of the full range of diseases and disorders of patients with sleep disorders.

To become subcertified in sleep medicine, an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon must complete ACGME-accredited fellowship training and then pass a written exam. The ABOHNS is one of six co-sponsoring ABMS Boards that provides subcertification in sleep medicine.

Complex Pediatric Otolaryngology

An otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon with complex pediatric otolaryngology CPO subcertification has additional expertise in caring for infants and children with especially challenging medical problems. The “complex” label indicates that either the child’s disorder is complex, or the disorder is common but occurs in a child with other kinds of complex conditions. The CPO specialist often teams up with other specialists in pediatric-specific institutions to provide multidisciplinary care to their patients. It is important to note that pediatric otolaryngology is comprehensively covered on the initial certification process and most children with otolaryngology-head and neck surgery disorders can be treated by diplomates with primary certification. A position statement endorsed by ABOHNS, AAO-HNS, and ASPO describes what is covered by complex pediatric otolaryngology as compared to primary certification in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. To become subcertified in CPO, an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon must fulfill eligibility requirements through the training or practice pathway. The practice pathway option will be open until 2030.