It is one of the most important branches of medicine as well as one of those that deals with the most common ailments.
Let's talk about Otolaryngology, the discipline that deals with the correct health of three fundamental organs such as nose, ears and throat,treating all the different and numerous pathologies and disorders that can affect them.
As in other medical disciplines, there are different types of ear instruments,as the medical specialist in this field is commonly called.
Tools that are very different from each other and have become increasingly technological over the years.
Let's now see which tools are most used in this field,and which pathologies are used to identify and then treat.
Otolaryngologist: essential tools
Typically, you turn to an otolaryngologist in case of ear discomfort, such as ringing or hearing problems, stuffy nose without a particular cold in progress,pain or discomfort in the throat and consequently in the voice but also, at a more serious level, sensations of heeling or balance problems, the classic dizziness.
The specialist first of all proceeds with the medical history, visual inspection of the oral cavity and ears, or even palpation of the neck.
The pathologies are truly different,also very common ones, which the otolaryngologist deals with, from the banal tonsillitis to nocturnal breathing problems, such as apneas and snoring.
Other problems that the larynx and throat may have concern the vocal cords, up to the most serious nodules, polyps or cysts,or salivary gland disorders.
For the ear, the discipline cures hearing problems such as simple ear infections but also dizziness and otosclerosis, while disorders such as sinusitis and adenoids can occur in the nose.
Just to proceed with the inspection,the most used otolaryngology instruments are therefore otoscopes, laryngoscopes, tuning forks, audiometers and impedance meters.
Otoscope
The Otoscope is one of the most widespread diagnostic tools in the ENT field.
It is an optical device, which resembles a hammer shape, and which is used to observe the ear cavity and the eardrum. It is therefore used to check the health of the ear and all the organs inside it, allowing the detection of various pathologies.The most common is inflammatory, otitis, but it also allows us to discover more complex problems such as lesions or malformations.
Equipped with a handle, in plastic or metal, and an illuminated head,the otoscope allows the doctor accurate observation through a magnifying glass.
There are very simple otoscopes on the market, as well as more technologically advanced, digital models with LED light, capable of providing the operator with a much more accurate image and with a greater color scale.
Laryngoscope
Another very common instrument among those used by the ENT is the laryngoscope, an endoscopic device that allows visualisation of the space between the vocal cords in the throat,called glottis.
It therefore allows an inspection of the throat and is also very useful for introducing the endotracheal tube when the need to intubate a patient arises.
The laryngoscope is also equipped with a handle, and a blade on which a light is installed,which allows inspection of the larynx.
The blade is perhaps the most important component of the laryngoscope, it can be straight or curved, depending on the type of intervention or observation that needs to be carried out.For newborns it is especially correct.
Above all, it is of different sizes depending on the age of the patient who needs to be examined.
The laryngoscope can be very simple, for observation by eye, but also very complex, like certain models used in operating rooms,equipped with a camera and mini screen which allows a much more precise and accurate view of the throat.
Fork
The Fork is a metal device composed of a stem handle and a U-shaped vibrating plate, used by the otolaryngologist for hearing ability tests,sayings of acumetry.
It provides a first very general indication of possible deafness, which is then confirmed with more in-depth tests and instruments such as the audiometer.
The analysis consists of making the instrument vibrate and seeing the patient's reaction to the noise.
Also in this case,There are easily transportable and very basic devices on the market, as well as sets of tuning forks made of special metal alloys and capable of providing vibrations at different frequencies.
Audiometer and Impedance Meter
Audiometers and impedance meters are used to carry out the so-called audiometric test and therefore provide precise information on a patient's hearing ability,and detect any serious losses.
The machine is connected to headphones that are worn by the patient, and will send particular sounds to him, with tones that vary from low to high.
The patient will be asked to give a nod or press a button every time he hears a particular sound.Based on his perception of particular sounds, the doctor will be able to determine the functionality of the patient's external or internal ear, while through vibrations he will be able to verify the state of health of the internal ear.
Even more in-depth is the examination carried out with the impedance meter,a specific device to observe the state of health of the eardrum and of the entire surrounding system.
This type of examination is carried out by inserting a cone inside the ear, with light pressure to make it adhere to an eardrum,in which a sound is introduced to set the eardrum and the chain of ossicles linked to it in motion.Based on the organ's reaction, the otolaryngologist will be able to determine the type of hearing problem the patient has.
The technology for this type of device has truly made great strides,and now there are very sophisticated digital models on the market that can also perform the function of both an audiometer and an impedance meter.
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