Grabbing An Appointment With The Ear Doctor
ENT specialists, or otolaryngologists, help treat problems with the ears, nose, and throat. There are so many different doctors in the medical field, it can be hard for people to know who they need to see and when. ENT doctors are specialists that aren’t people patients see for everyday reasons. There are specific times that are good to contact an ENT doctor. Here are a few reasons to find an ENT doctor.
Reason 1: General Practitioner Referral
General practitioners are the doctors you see for any and all reasons. However, they don’t specialize in any one field. If they note that you have an issue in your ears, they may be able to pinpoint and treat it, or they might want you to see an ENT doctor for more specified treatment options. When your general practitioner gives you a referral to an ENT doctor, that is a sure sign that you need one to help your problem.
Reason 2: Persistent Infections
While it’s normal to call your regular doctor for an earache, if you have persistent ear infections that keep arising, you may want to visit with an ENT doctor instead. The ENT doctor is a specialist who has studied ear, nose, and throat issues at long length as well as how those areas are all connected. If you have ear infection after ear infection, they can help get to the bottom of the root cause of the infections instead of just treating the infection. That way, you can gain access to relief, but also get long term help with the actual problem causing the infections in the first place.
Reason 3: Ear Problems That Worsen
You know your body and you have likely had ear infections before. If you get one and it only gets worse and worse, seeing an ENT doctor is in your best interest. You might have something that the general practitioner hasn’t seen or won’t know how to treat specifically. ENT doctors have seen it all and they know just what to do.
Reason 4: Hearing Problems
If you have a hearing condition, or you are starting to feel like you can’t hear, it’s best to see an ENT doctor for preventative treatments. Your sense of hearing is very important and you want someone who knows the connections the ears have with the brain to get everything lined up well so you can prevent further hearing loss and perhaps even restore some or all of your hearing. It might be as simple as impacted ear wax and the ENT doctor can fix that with ease.
Reason 5: Treatment Options
ENT doctors have a lot more options for ear treatments than general practitioners since they specialize in the field. You could get prescription drops, cleanings, antibiotics, ear tubes, or any number of other things. The options are available and the ENT doctor will know what to suggest as the best course of action for your specific set of symptoms.
Getting To The ENT Doctor
If you have ear issues and your doctor recommends you see an ENT specialist, you know for sure you want to move forward with an appointment. But if you have ear infections that just keep coming around, worsening pain, hearing loss or other symptoms, you may want to call on your own as well. The professionals at Breathe Clear Institute can get to the bottom of your ear problems.