Otology is the medical discipline concerned with the ear and temporal bone region. Disease of this region can often have neurological implications, which has led to the subspecialty of neurotology. In recognizing the complexity of this region, an official subspecialty of otolaryngology has been established. Starting in 2004, otolaryngology residency graduates who have completed a fellowship or gained appropriate clinical experience in neurotology can qualify for the certifying examination and achieve a certificate of added qualifications in neurotology.

Like its larger parent specialty, otology is a subspecialty of a defined region, involving both medical and surgical care. The basic contents of this region: skin, cartilage, bone and special sensory neural apparatus are subject to the diseases that can occur in any other location including infectious, inflammatory, congenital, traumatic, and neoplastic disorders. But due to its proximity to vital structures including the great vessels of the skull base, lower cranial nerves, cerebellum and brainstem, and middle cranial fossa, disease in the temporal bone can impact on multiple systems. Conversely, systemic or distant disease can present with ear symptoms.

Despite the complexity of the ear and surrounding anatomy, it is surprising that most ear diseases present with a rather limited array of symptoms. Essentially, the five main symptoms listed below will bring a patient to the attention of a treating physician. Most otologic diseases will be diagnosed through astute history taking and physical examination.

Notwithstanding the limited symptoms in the ear, the necessary clues for accurate diagnosis often lie in the ancillary information and historical facts gathered by an informed medical history. As such the otologic history can lead to an accurate diagnosis and be a very gratifying experience for the clinician in a great majority of cases. Does the patient complaining of sudden hearing loss simply have cerumen occlusion or viral cochleitis causing sensorineural hearing loss (a true otologic emergency)? Ancillary historical data such as the chronology of symptoms, precipitating factors, and cleaning habits will often be strongly indicative of the probable cause and can be confirmed with examination and audiology as needed.