An article published in the National Library of Medicine reports, “In the United States, tympanostomy tube (TT) insertion is the most common ambulatory surgery performed on children under 15.” In most cases, TTs are inserted by ear, nose and throat (ENT) physicians. There are many other conditions ENT physicians treat, including snoring, swallowing disorders, allergies and much more. If your child has been referred to an ENT clinic, we review how to help them prepare for their appointment below.
Explain the Basics
Your child’s age, maturity level and attention span will determine how in-depth this conversation is. With very young children, you can simply tell them they are going to see a new doctor who will look at their ears, nose or throat and talk to them about how they’re feeling. Then, they’ll think of ways to help them feel better when they’re playing at Happy Hollow Park in Spartanburg. With older children, you can go into more detail about what to expect during the appointment based on what the referring doctor has told you and your own research about their condition.
Practice Sitting Still
Younger children should practice sitting still so their doctor can perform the exam with greater ease. During playtime, you can ask your child to sit very still so you can play “doctor” and look in their ears, nose or throat. Then, you can demonstrate how you sit very still while they look in your ears, nose or throat.
Encourage Them to Ask Questions
Tell your child that their doctor will ask them lots of questions to get to know them and that they can ask questions back. Participating in the conversation can help them feel more in control of the situation and even be less nervous.
Allow Plenty of Time
The last thing you want is to be rushing out the door or driving frantically to get to your appointment in time. You also don’t want to try to rush through the appointment to get somewhere else after. ENT physicians try to keep their schedules while also being thorough, so make sure to allow plenty of time for the appointment.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with an expert ENT physician, call Spartanburg | Greer ENT & Allergy today.
