To choose the best ear, nose and throat doctor, you should begin by speaking with your family doctor or a general practitioner. These individuals will likely be able to make a recommendation for a specialist in your area. If you don’t like who he or she recommends, you can speak with friends or family to find out who they use or browse your local phone directory and call around to speak with various people in your area.
The most reliable way of finding an ear, nose and throat doctor is to speak with your family doctor. Many times you will need a referral in order to see a specialist anyway, and the doctor who does your initial examination can generally give you the names and numbers of recommended specialists in the area. Call each option given and discuss your situation to determine who would be a good fit.
If you do not find an ear, nose and throat doctor this way, you can talk with those you know to determine who they use for their needs. People you know will be most likely to give you an accurate description of a doctor’s performance. You may also browse through local options in your phone directory. Once you have a few names and numbers taken down, you can begin calling around to determine the best option for your needs.
Speak with a representative from each office and discuss coming in to have a visit with the ear, nose and throat doctor on staff. If there is more than one at a specific practice, you may want to talk with any doctor who may see you. Many offices will give a free consultation and tour of the facility, but this is not always the case so be sure and ask before your visit.
Bring a list of questions to each office to discuss your condition and what options they have available. You can also get a feel for the doctors this way by talking and taking note of which personalities you get along best with. Speak with the staff and ask to take a look around the facilities to make sure you enjoy the atmosphere. You should also ask about insurance information, costs for types of visits and procedures, and payment plans if you are uninsured.