Ear doctors are called otolaryngologists, or ENTs for short. They are healthcare specialists who diagnose and treat conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat, as well as related areas in the head and neck. Otolaryngologists are trained in both medicine and surgery, and they can perform many types of surgery on the delicate and complex tissues of the head and neck. They go to 4 years of medical school and have at least 5 years of special training, and they need to pass an exam to be certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.