This month marks the beginning of Better Hearing and Speech Month. At least 20 percent of U.S. adults, at some point in their lives, have a significant problem with hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, or language. Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM) was founded in 1927 by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Communication disorders can compromise physical and emotional health and affect the social, educational, vocational, and recreational aspects of life. This is why a certain medical specialty is so important to the industry. An otolaryngology doctor is designed to treat these ear, nose, and throat issues that affect millions of people every year. Below we’ll take a look at the importance of an Otolaryngology doctor as well as the importance of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
The Importance of an Otolaryngology Doctor
What Do They Do?
Well, if you decide that you want to pursue a career in otolaryngology, it’s important to know what the career entails. You’ll be considered an ear, nose and throat physician (ENT) and will specialize in diagnosing issues within those areas. Here are just a few of the issues that an otolaryngology doctor will deal with.
Ear
When talking about the importance of an Otolaryngology doctor, we need to talk about hearing. Hearing loss plagues millions of people every year, so becoming an expert in the field can lead the way towards a rewarding career.
Nose
About 35 million people develop chronic sinusitis each year, making it one of the most common health complaints in America. Care of the nasal cavity and sinuses is one of the primary skills of otolaryngologists. Issues with the sinuses include allergies, infections, and plenty of others.
Throat
The importance of an otolaryngology doctor also comes down to issues in the throat and neck area. Whether it’s a sleep disorder like sleep apnea that’s causing major issues, or simply a sore throat that persists, throat issues can be very serious. Luckily, these expert physicians will ensure that you’re in good hands.
Becoming an Otolaryngology Doctor
While it might take a strong commitment to becoming an otolaryngology doctor, it’s certainly a career that’s rewarding both emotionally and financially. Typically, ENTs must complete up to 15 years of college and training in to be certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.
First, you’ll need to earn your undergraduate degree as well as your medical degree. Each of these degrees will take about four years to complete. You’ll then often spend at least two years in residency so you can get yourself familiar with a healthcare setting. Finally, you’ll need to spend around five years of specialty training. After that, all you’ll need to do is pass American Board of Otolaryngology exam and you’ll become a certified ENT doctor. While we realize this is a lot of time, money and schooling, it’s important to remember that the career pays very well and you’ll be helping hundreds of patients every year.
Celebrating Better Hearing and Speech Month
Since May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, it’s important that you help to celebrate and bring awareness to the cause. Events include a concert celebrating the importance of ear safety, as well as social media campaign designed raise awareness all month long. More info can be found at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website. Better Hearing and Speech Month also encourages parents to identify possible speech and language problems in their children which can affect a child’s learning and self-esteem. BHSM educates people about the signs of hearing loss as well as common speech impairments that might arise.
As always, if you’re an otolaryngology doctor looking for a locum tenens career, feel free to look at the thousands of jobs we have available.
