Skip to content

Welcome

Celebrating Over 80 Years Of Service!

The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) represents over 2,700 Board-certified otolaryngologists and health care providers. Otolaryngology, frequently referred to as Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT), uniquely combines medical and surgical expertise to care for patients with a variety of conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat, as well as commonly related conditions. AAOA members devote part of their practice to the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease. The AAOA actively supports its membership through education, research, and advocacy in the care of allergic patients.

"Advance the comprehensive management of allergy and inflammatory disease in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery through training, education, and advocacy."

AAOA Member Benefits

  • Up to 60% discount for CME programs and free Annual Meeting. All AAOA’s CME programs meet ABOTOHNS Continuing Certification.
  • AAOA US ENT Affinity program, where AAOA members can gain savings on antigen, allergy supplies, and any of the other 5 service lines US ENT offers. For more email info@usentpartners.com.
  • Tools and resources to comply with US General Chapter 797 and practice management tools.
  • Advocacy support.
  • And much more! Learn More

ADVOCACY UPDATES

USP General Chapter <797> Compliant?  AAOA Has the Resources You Need

Impacting allergy immunotherapy vial preparation, USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding — Sterile Preparations went…

Read more

Video On USP General Chapter

On November 1, 2023, the new chapter of USP General Chapter <797> was implemented. AAOA has…

Read more

USP General Chapter Resources

November 1, 2023 is the implementation date for the new chapter. AAOA has resources and…

Read more

Upcoming Dates

04/01/24: Fellow Exam Application Deadline
Learn more

06/01/24: Research Grant Cycle
Learn more

06/25/24: Membership Application Deadline to be eligible for AAOA Member rate for the 2024 Basic Course

08/02/24: Scientific Abstract Submission Deadline
Learn more

12/01/24: Research Grant Cycle
Learn more

EDUCATION

AAOA Advanced Course

The recorded course content is available until April 30, 2024. This year’s Advanced Course featured Laryngology and Skull Base Surgery with Nausheen Jamal, MD and Garret Choby, MD as featured faculty.

RESIDENTS

For information about Resident membership, opportunities, DosedDaily, research grants, and other resources. Learn More

IFAR

Available Now

aaoaf-ifar

IFAR Impact Factor: 2.454

IFAR Featured Content: COVID-19 - Free Access
Endonasal instrumentation and aerosolization risk in the era of COVID‐19: simulation, literature review, and proposed mitigation strategies . Read More

Changes in Managing Practices

Working together with AAOA staff, volunteer leadership and members will enable us to have a positive impact on our members’ practices.

Read More

Live and Online CME

2024 AAOA Advanced Course in Allergy & Immunology - Hybrid
On-Demand Content Access Deadline:
April 30, 2024
Learn More and Register

2024 AAOA Basic Course in Allergy & Immunology - Hybrid
July 25-27, 2024
The Diplomat, Hollywood, Florida
Learn More and Register

2024 AAOA Annual Meeting - Hybrid
November 8-10, 2024
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Learn More 

USP 797 Online Module
Learn More and Register

AAOA Educational Stacks
Next Availability - April 1, 2024

News and Updates

Experience New Mexico While Attending AAOA Advanced Course

While attending the 2024 AAOA Advanced Course in Santa Ana Pueblo, outside Albuquerque, in New Mexico, make…

Read more

New Member Benefit for 2024

AAOA is proud to announce its new Affinity Program with US ENT, a group purchasing…

Read more
College Allergy Symptoms Treatment Back to Shcool

PRACTICE RESOURCES

AAOA Practice Resource Tool Kit

The American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) Practice Resource Tool Kit is intended as a guide to help AAOA members integrate allergy into their otolaryngology practice and to continually improve on this integration as new information, regulations, and resources become available.

Read More

PARTNER RESOURCE CENTER

AAOA has launched a Partner Resource Center to bring you partner resources that can assist your practice and patient care.

Visit the New Center>

PATIENT CORNER

Living With Allergies

How To Treat Allergies At Home

By Dr. Kevin F. Wilson

Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist

If you suffer from allergies, you’ve got lots of company. Nearly 50 million people nationwide battle allergies of some kind, including pollens, pets, molds, and foods. Allergies can manifest as a variety of problems, including hay fever, asthma, eczema, recurrent ear infections, and chronic hoarseness. Symptoms may include itchy-watery eyes, sneezing, nasal stuffiness and drainage, scratchy throats, and wheezing.

Some allergy sufferers experience symptoms all year. Others may only have problems during certain seasons or with specific exposures. Minimizing exposure to allergens, managing symptoms with medications, and desensitization with allergy shots or drops are all methods that can be useful in con- trolling allergic symptoms.

The best way to avoid allergic symptoms is to avoid the allergen that causes them. Unfortunately, many people don’t know what they’re actually allergic to, and depending on the allergen, it can be impossible to avoid. Still, simple things like wearing a mask when mowing the lawn, changing air filters regularly, and not letting the cat in the bedroom can make a significant difference for some people.

Medications such as nasal steroid sprays or antihistamines can be very helpful to control symptoms. Both over-the-counter and prescription medications are available, each with their advantages and drawbacks.

Immunotherapy, or allergy shots or drops, provides the only treatment method that can offer lasting relief or cure from allergies. This is because immunotherapy shifts the body’s response from an allergic to a non-allergic response. Rather than masking the symptoms of allergy as with medication, it can minimize the symptoms from occurring in the first place.

Allergy shots have been in use for decades. Although effective, shots can be a bit of a hassle. Allergy shots can only be administered in a doctor’s office; physicians also usually monitor patients for about 30 minutes after the shot is administered to make sure there are no adverse effects from the treatment.

Many adults and most children have an understandable aversion to needles. For grown-ups getting the shot, the anticipation every week of a jab in the arm can be emotional torture. Adults who must watch their children endure the pain, albeit quick, of that weekly sting may find it equally as difficult to watch. And the time spent driving to and from the doctor’s office for the weekly shot, then waiting the 30 minutes, can cause significant disruption to the daily routine

That’s why a different approach, known as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), has seen a dramatic increase in recent years. Instead of an allergy shot, a patient simply puts a few drops of the solution under their tongue. Patients (or parents) can administer the sublingual drops themselves at home.

Many doctors believe sublingual therapy is safer than allergy shots be- cause the drops under the tongue are absorbed into the system at a slower rate than the traditional allergy shots, thereby reducing the possibility of an adverse reaction.

Sublingual therapy is not new—it has been around since the 1970s and heavily used in Europe for years. In the United States, SLIT has not taken hold as quickly, partially because the treatment is still awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Without the go ahead from the FDA, insurance companies will not pay for the therapy. Allergy shots have had approval for years, and most insurance companies reimburse patients for their use.

Although sublingual therapy has not been approved by the FDA, that does not prohibit its prescription by doctors. In addition, numerous studies show the treatment is effective and safe for patient use.

And, it turns out, the cost can be quite comparable, even without insurance coverage.

Spotlight/News

Macra

CMS Announces Changes in MACRA Implementation Timeline. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced major changes to the implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Re-authorization (MACRA). Read More

AOAA

AAOA brings together a variety of resources to aid you in the management of your practice and your career. Please stop back often or subscribe to our updates to benefit from our offerings.

Back To Top