ENT Consultation: 10 Essential Elements of Picking a Paediatric ENT in Singapore

Choosing any doctor for your child is difficult. There are many factors to consider to ensure your child receives the best care. Parents should understand the doctor’s credentials, the type of equipment and testing available in the office, and whether or not the doctor’s office has ready access to surgical facilities. It all holds crucial when selecting a paediatric ENT in Singapore for your child.

Children have a higher incidence of ear infections, adenoid and tonsil issues, and sinus problems than adults, making a good ENT vital to your child’s health and wellbeing. Here are some elements you should consider when selecting an ENT for your child.

1. ENT Doctor Credentials.

Credentials are the first thing you should examine when considering a paediatric ENT in Singapore. In this instance, you should seek a specialist trained in paediatric ear, nose, and throat care. A specialist of the ear, nose, and throat may be required, but only in very specific cases.

Each ENT is trained to treat children. It is part of board training. They can treat sinus or ear problems in kids. In rare cases, a paediatric ENT specialist is essential if your child has a complex ear, nose, or throat condition requiring surgery.

2. Office Procedures.

It can be hard finding an ENT clinic with flexible scheduling, helpful and friendly office staff, an easily accessible location, and child-friendly waiting areas. You can typically find information online; however, user reviews are not always objective. A good ENT specialist in Singapore will have their locations listed on their website, and it is always a good idea to ask your paediatrician for recommendations.

3. Doctor’s Professional Experience.

Parents entrust their children to doctors. Verify their experience and consider the number of hospitals or clinics they have worked with before making a move to cure an ear infection in your children.

4. The Patient’s Age.

The age of the child is a key element. Before you check the ENT’s credentials in paediatric otolaryngology, know if the patient is an infant or young child. Even if the ENT is not board-certified in paediatrics, they may have extensive experience working with kids.

There is no defined field of geriatric otolaryngology; however, if you are a senior citizen, you should inquire whether the ENT has experience treating elderly patients. Some ear and hearing disorders are more prevalent in older adults, and you need a paediatric ENT in Singapore who stays current on these issues.

5. Office Hours and Locations.

No patient, regardless of age, desires to travel a great distance to see an ENT. It is especially true if you reside in a harsh climate. Many ENTs collaborate, allowing them to maintain multiple offices in multiple locations. Check office hours and availability outside of business hours. Does an ENT clinic in Singapore offer weekend or extended hours? Do their availability hours meet your needs?

A paediatrician’s proximity to your home is one of the most important considerations when selecting one. Ensure that any doctor you are considering can treat sick children at home or in their office and provide checkups without requiring you to transport them elsewhere first!

6. Bedside Manner.

Next, you should consider the physician’s bedside manner. How does this individual interact with the children? Do children generally appear content? Check each doctor’s reviews and recommendations, and ask your general paediatrician for advice. And just because an ENT specialist in Singapore can treat children’s ear, nose, and throat issues does not mean they are good with children.

You must find a physician who is at ease with children, enjoys working with them and is adept at this interaction. It is where word-of-mouth and paediatrician recommendations come in, as it is difficult to quantify these qualities. An ENT who can make a child feel safe and at ease is crucial.

7. Trust.

You want a doctor you can trust. You must ensure that they are approachable, patient, and aware of the concerns of parents with children in their care; therefore, they must have all bases covered.

8. Gender.

Consider whether the gender of a paediatric ENT in Singapore is crucial to you. Some individuals only feel comfortable with healthcare professionals of the same gender, while others prefer treatment by someone of the opposite gender, and others have no preference. The training received by ENTs is the same regardless of gender. Gender consideration is more about how you feel than the ENT’s training or treatment methods. Consider how comfortable you are discussing intimate details of your life and bodily functions with males or females when discussing certain conditions.

9. Essential Auxiliary Services.

If your child is exhibiting signs of hearing loss, you should take them to an ENT office with an audiologist on staff for a hearing test. There is a distinction between an audiologist with board certification and a hearing aid salesperson. While a hearing aid salesperson can calibrate the hearing aid, they cannot diagnose the underlying cause of hearing loss and any other complications. And if your child has allergy-related sinusitis, you should ensure that the ENT specialist in Singapore is familiar with allergic rhinitis and its treatment. Additionally, it may be practical to know whether the ENT office offers child-friendly CT services to evaluate their sinuses.

In some instances, your child may require surgery to remove their tonsils, adenoids, or both, as well as the insertion of ear tubes and other procedures. One must choose an ENT affiliated with a surgical centre to ensure your child receives the highest quality care in a comfortable setting. A large hospital can be intimidating for the child and costly for the family, so access to a surgery centre is essential.

10. Office Professionalism. 

Lastly, it is essential to consider how the office operates. Is handling the schedule and documents appear organised, professional, and official? Is the office staff friendly and helpful? Is it a kid-friendly location? Remember that comfort is essential when searching for a paediatric ENT in Singapore you and your child can trust.

In addition to these ten factors, ensure that the ENT you choose accepts your insurance and that the hospital or surgical centre they use is in your network.

To solve snoring in children, contact Dr Jenica Yong for ENT consultation.