Otolarynologyis the branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders. Since its founding 50 years ago, The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck at the Emory University School of Medicine has become a leader in the Southeast.



As a department that is committed to teaching and research, the experienced faculty maintains their skills, and is always on the cutting edge of modern otolaryngology. With a diversity of expertise including otology, neurotology, skull base surgery, rhinology, sinusology, head and neck oncology, pediatric otolaryngology, facial plastic surgery & aesthetics, and oral medicine the Department of Ontolaryngology is well versed to handle all sorts of problems.

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Emory has experience in the full spectrum of otolaryngologic diseases. The expert Emory faculty routinely care for diseases and disorders of great complexity including many areas. A common area that Otolarygology evaluates and treats is ear disorders. This can include anything from the most basic ear infection to more complex problems such as middle ear effusion (fluid in middle ear), cholesteatoma (skin cyst in ear or mastoid), hearing loss-conductive, hearing loss-sensorineural, otosclerosis, congenital deafness, acoustic neuroma, and tumors of the ear.

Another main area where The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Emory can offer comprehensive evaluation and treatment is for conditions of the nose and sinuses. Sinus infections are very common, extremely painful, and easily treated. Breathing problems resulting from either underlying nasal structure problems, or problems caused by certain daily activities are also quite common. Other conditions Otolaryngologists treat are: deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy, allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, anosmia (loss of sense of smell), acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, fungal sinusitis, allergic fungal sinusitis, cystic fibrosis, maxillary sinusitis, ethmoid sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, sphenoid sinusitis, cerebral spinal fluid leaks, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and melanoma. For those wishing to change the shape of their nose, rhinoplasty is also available.

Nasal problems can greatly affect the quality of a person's sleep, which can thus be detrimental to their quality of life. Not many people can function properly without a good nights rest. Therefore, The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery offers comprehensive evaluation and treatment for snoring and sleep disorders including: snoring, upper-airway resistance syndrome and sleep apnea. Procedures to treat these problems include nasal and turbinate surgery, Somnoplasty, glosoplexy, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and tongue base reduction. A good night's sleep is critical, and Emory Otolaryngology can help achieve this.

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery also has a division of comprehensive facial plastic/ reconstructive surgery and aesthetic services including: facial rejuvenation (rhytidectomy), eyelid rejuvenation (blepharoplasty), nasal refinement (rhinoplasty), correction of malformed ears (otoplasty), correction of thin lips (lip augmentation), correction of a weak or prominent chin (genioplasty), cheek bone enhancement (malar augmentation), removal of excess facial fat (liposuction), minimally invasive facial surgery (endoscopic surgery), scar revision, surgery to remove skin cancer, reconstruction following facial trauma, cancer therapy and birth defects. Patients who are seeking a change for any reason should feel comfortable coming to Emory Otolaryngology.