Before you look for an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor it’s important that you know what they do and how they can help you. In this post we’ll show you what an ENT specializes in, and what symptoms to watch out for before deciding to book an appointment.
What Do Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctors Really Do?
Also known as Otolaryngologists, ENTs specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions related to:
- Nasal structure
- Sinuses
- Breathing, swallowing and sleeping disorders
- Tinnitus
- Ear infections
- Allergies
- Facial reconstruction
Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly is making you feel under the weather. So when is it time to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor?
Otolaryngology is a complex field and explaining the things ENTs treat can be a lengthy discussion. However, if you break it down simply, it’s easy to figure out when it’s time to consult one.
Here are four categories you can place yourself in:
- Injuries: Whatever’s happened has left you injured. Whether your ears, hearing, nose, breathing or throat has been affected, your body isn’t working the way it ought to.
- Sudden Changes: This is known to happen with things like allergies or tinnitus. You’re not sure why but things are different all of a sudden and it doesn’t seem temporary.
- Seasonal: Different kinds of infections and allergies flare up seasonally. It’s like clockwork. It has a trigger and most of all, it throws your whole body off.
- Chronic: Conditions like sinusitis, sleep apnea and Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) stick with you over long periods of time and never seem to go away. They wear you down and make life hard.
Now let’s look at what you should do to find your ENT.
Insurance
The first thing you should think about is your insurance. Find out if you’re covered and most of all, if you need a referral from your regular doctor. Make sure to explore all the details before beginning your search.
After getting your referral, ask your doctor or any friends with previous experience about the specialist you’re looking at. Don’t stop there either – see what that doctor’s patients have to say. Also make sure to look at the range of procedures available at their location and whether you think it can address your needs.
You may not be bursting with excitement at having to find an ear nose and throat doctor but the alternative is worse. What you think of as a minor thorn in your side can become a life altering condition overnight and only a specialist can help you prevent something chronic or debilitating.
Are you looking for an Ear Nose and Throat Doctor?
If you’re a Houston resident looking for an Ear Nose and throat doctor, look no further than Dr. CT Nguyen. With more than 10 years of experience, he has helped hundreds of people get relief from their nasal & sinus conditions.
To book an assessment with Houston Sinus & Allergy, please fill out our assessment form today!