---
name: otolaryngology-assessment
description: Use when asked to administer, score, or explain an Otolaryngology Assessment — general ENT consultation using the SNOT-22 symptom score — grounded in FormExamples/form-examples.
---

# Otolaryngology Assessment

General ear-nose-throat (otolaryngology) consultation assessment
covering presenting complaint, history, examination findings, and the
SNOT-22 symptom score to quantify sinonasal quality of life and guide
ENT management.

## Scoring

**Instrument:** SNOT-22 (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test) + ENT Review of
Systems. Range 0–110.

- **Mild (0–7)** — minimal impact on daily life.
- **Moderate (8–19)** — moderate impact; targeted management advised.
- **Severe (20+)** — significant impact; consider specialist referral
  or surgery.

## What it covers

Demographics; presenting complaint (ear/nose/throat/neck); history of
present illness; past ENT history and surgery; the SNOT-22
questionnaire; external examination; otoscopy; anterior rhinoscopy;
oropharyngeal and neck examination; and clinical impression with a
management plan.

## Common pitfalls

- **Using SNOT-22 for non-sinonasal ENT complaints** — it's specifically
  validated for sinonasal symptoms; an ear- or throat-predominant
  complaint needs its own targeted history and exam, not a SNOT-22 score
  standing in for the whole assessment.
- **Skipping a neck examination in a general ENT review** — neck
  findings (lymphadenopathy, masses) can be the most clinically
  significant finding and are easy to omit if the visit is framed
  narrowly around the presenting complaint.
- **Treating a "Mild" SNOT-22 score as ruling out a need for
  examination** — the score measures quality-of-life impact, not
  disease presence; a structurally significant finding can coexist with
  a low symptom-impact score.

## Learn more

- [FormExamples: otolaryngology-assessment](https://github.com/FormExamples/form-examples/tree/main/forms/otolaryngology-assessment) for the full implementation, clinical references, and worked examples.
- [[audiology-assessment]] for a related, hearing-specific assessment.