History of Otolaryngology

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology was established in 1896, one of the earliest specialty organizations with a national scope. American board certification examination and recognition followed in 1924. The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) is the second oldest of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

The specialty originally included the treatment of eye conditions and was commonly identified as EENT (eyes, ears, nose, and throat). However, as a result of the explosion of medical knowledge, ophthalmology split from otolaryngology many years ago. The American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) and the American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO) adopted a more anglicized qualification when the name was changed to "otolaryngology-head and neck surgery."

Calling an otolaryngologist an "ENT" is no more appropriate than calling a cardiologist a "heart" or an oncologist a "cancer." (We'll leave the description of a colon and rectal surgeon to your imagination!)