About ENT Specialists

• What Do Otolaryngologists (ENT Specialist) Treat?
• Training and Patient Care
• Diagnosis and Treatment in Seven Area of Expertise
• A Brief History

What is ENT?

ENT specialists are physicians, trained to provide medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the ears, nose and throat (ENT) and related problems affecting the head and neck. Otolaryngologists, or more commonly referred to as ENT physicians diagnose, treat, and manage specialty-specific disorders as well as many primary care problems in both children and adults. Otolaryngology / Head and Neck Surgery is the official name of the oldest medical specialty in the United States.

What Do Otolaryngologists (ENT Specialist) Treat?

The Ears

Hearing loss affects one in ten North Americans. The unique domain of Otolaryngologists is the treatment of ear disorders. They are trained in both the medical and surgical treatment of hearing, ear infections, balance disorders, ear noise (tinnitus), nerve pain, and facial and cranial nerve disorders. Otolaryngologists also manage congenital (birth) disorders of the outer and inner ear.

The 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. Management of the nasal area includes allergies and sense of smell. Breathing through, and the appearance of, the nose are also part of Otolaryngologists' expertise.

The Throat

Communicating (speech and singing) and eating a meal all involve this vital area. Also specific to Otolaryngologists is expertise in managing diseases of the larynx (voice box) and the upper aero-digestive tract or esophagus, including voice and swallowing disorders.

The Head and Neck

This center of the body includes the important nerves that control sight, smell, hearing, and the face. In the head and neck area, Otolaryngologists are trained to treat infectious diseases, both benign and malignant (cancerous) tumors, facial trauma, and deformities of the face. They perform both cosmetic plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Training and Patient Care

Otolaryngologists are ready to start practicing after completing up to 15 years of college and post-graduate training. To qualify for certification by the American Board of Otolaryngology, an applicant must first complete college, medical school (usually four years), and at least five years of specialty training. Next, the physician must pass the American Board of Otolaryngology examination. In addition, some Otolaryngologists pursue a one- or two- year fellowship for more extensive training in one of seven subspecialty areas.

These subspecialty areas are pediatric Otolaryngology (children), otology/neurotology (ears, balance, and tinnitus), allergy, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck, laryngology (throat), and rhinology (nose). Some Otolaryngologists limit their practices to one of these seven areas.

These specialists differ from many physicians in that they are trained in both medicine and surgery. Otolaryngologists do not need to refer patients to other physicians when ear, nose, throat, or head/neck surgery is needed and, therefore, can offer the most appropriate care for each individual patient.

Diagnosis and Treatment in Seven Area of Expertise

Otology/Neurotology

Diseases of the ear, including trauma (injury), cancer, and nerve pathway disorders, which affect hearing and balance.

Examples: ear infection, swimmer's ear, hearing loss; ear, face or neck pain; dizziness, ringing in the ear (tinnitus).

Pediatric Otolaryngology

Diseases in children with special ENT problems including birth defects in the head and neck and developmental delays.

Examples: ear infection (otitis media), tonsil and adenoid infection, airway problems, Down's syndrome, asthma and allergy/sinus disease.

Head and Neck

Cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the head and neck, including the thyroid and parathyroid.

Examples: lump in the neck or thyroid, cancer of the voice box.

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Cosmetic, functional, and reconstructive surgical treatment of abnormalities of the face and neck.

Examples: deviated septum, rhinoplasty (nose), face lift, cleft palate, drooping eyelids, hairless.

Rhinology

Disorders of the nose and sinuses.

Examples: sinus disorder, nose bleed, stuffy nose, loss of smell.

Laryngology

Disorders of the throat, including voice and swallowing problems.

Examples: sore throat, hoarseness, swallowing disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Allergy

Treatment by medication, immunotherapy (allergy shots) and/or avoidance of pollen, dust, mold, food, and other sensitivities that affect the ear, nose, and throat.

Examples: hay fever, seasonal and perennial rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, laryngitis, sore throat, otitis media, dizziness.

A Brief History

ENT Specialists came into being in the late 1960s with the formation of a partnership between Dr. James Cleary and newly-minted Otolaryngologist James E. Hansen. The practice was located in downtown Salt Lake City, in the Boston Building on Exchange Row. After Dr. Cleary's death, Dr. Hansen relocated to a new medical complex at 90 South and 900 East. A long-term partnership was established in 1976 when Dr. Jerry W. Sonkens was invited into the practice. Two years later the duo purchased property at 4000 South 700 East, and with the assistance of developer Dick Prows, designed the Old Farm Professional Plaza to blend in nicely with Prowswood's nearby Old Farm Condominium compound.

ENT Specialists settled into suite 10 in the new complex where the group has remained for the past quarter of a century. The 6,000 square feet facility houses four physicians, eight examining rooms, a surgical suite, a laboratory, and a large waiting room. The eastern wing of the suite harbors the Audiology Department, an ENG/ABR testing room, a computer center, and the new XORAN Technologies Mini CAT scanner brought on board in 2005.

In the mid-1980s Dr. Randal W. Swenson joined doctors Hansen and Sonkens in the practice. Dr. Swenson's focus, in addition to general ENT work, is Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. David K. Palmer later joined the group, bringing an extensive background in allergies, to compliment his general ENT work. He ultimately established an Allergy Department in nearby suite 20, as well as a full time Allergy/ENT Clinic in Tooele , Utah 45 miles west of Salt Lake City. In 2000 a Care of the Professional Voice Division was created which employs two speech and language pathologists. This year also brought aboard Nancy Stevenson, a certified Physician Assistant. Dr. John E. Butler, an Otolaryngologist who had been practicing in Colorado, joined the group in the summer of 2004.

Today ENT Specialists in addition to the four Otolaryngologists, consists of twenty-seven dedicated employees including five members of the Audiology Department and six employees of the Allergy Department.