Otology is the branch of medicine and surgery devoted to the study, diagnosis, and management of disorders of the ear and its related structures. As a subspecialty of Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (ENT), otology focuses primarily on the external ear, middle ear, and inner ear, as well as their roles in hearing and balance. Closely allied with neurotology, otology bridges sensory physiology, neuroscience, infectious disease, audiology, and microsurgery.
This module covers the three key functional systems of the temporal bone: hearing, balance, and facial nerve function. Audiology focuses on how sound is transmitted and processed, along with the clinical evaluation of different types of hearing loss. Vestibular science deals with the mechanisms of balance and the assessment of patients with dizziness and vertigo. The facial nerve section emphasizes its anatomy, lesion localization, and management of paralysis, especially in relation to ear disease and otologic surgery.