Health Information
John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
Welcome to Our Virtual Museum
The virtual museum is an extension of the John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. Please take a few minutes to browse our site to learn about the history of medical and surgical care of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck.
Virtual Museum Offerings
Famous FiguresLearn about the ENT disorders of famous people and about some of the pioneers in the field of otolaryngology.
Find answers to some of the frequently asked questions about early hearing aids.
If you have a collection (of anything!), this section is for you. In the following pages, you will find information about common problems and advice about handling and storage for a variety of materials.
Ever wondered about early hearing aids? Want to know how procedures for examining the ear, nose, and throat have developed? Come and visit the Adams Center's virtual exhibits!
The John Q. Adams Center for the History of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery
In 1996, the museum and research center were named in honor of John Q. Adams in recognition of his outstanding and longtime support of the Foundation and its educational goals. Mr. Adams is the founder and former CEO of Adams Laboratories of Fort Worth, Texas.
Hours: The Adams Center museum is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Federal holidays. Access to the library and the collections in storage is by appointment only.
Admission: Free
Location: The Adams Center is located in the headquarters of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation in Alexandria, Virginia. The building is at One Prince Street in the Old Town area, one block south of King Street on the west bank of the Potomac River. The nearest Metrorail stop is King Street, on the Blue and Yellow lines, where DASH and Metro buses to Old Town are available. For more information on how to reach the Adams Center via public transportation please contact the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
News
Thank you to our recent donors! The Adams Center relies on your generosity to help develop our historical collections.
Join us for the September 2008 Otolaryngology Historical Society meeting in Chicago, IL. View more information or RSVP.
Find an ENT
About Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology (pronounced oh/toe/lair/in/goll/oh/jee) is the oldest medical specialty in the United States. Otolaryngologists are commonly referred to as ENT physicians.
ENT History
| 1546 | Account published of first documented successful tracheotomy |
| 1806 | Dutrochet introduces concept of vocal cord movement |
| 1898 | Carbon-type hearing aid first produced |
| 1924 | Otolaryngology specialty board (second such board in U.S.) is formed |
| 1984 | FDA approves first cochlear implant for marketing |
| 1988 | First wearable digital signal processing hearing aid produced |
AAO-HNS Museum
Learn about the history of medical care of the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck.