Top ENT Specialists in Singapore

What is an ENT specialist? 

The proper medical term for an ent specialist is otolaryngologists or head and neck specialists in short. An ent specialist is a doctor who specialises in ear, nose, and throat conditions. 

Here are some ent specialists to consider:

What does ENT specialist do 

An ent specialist treats conditions pertaining to the head, neck, and ears in both adults and children. Their job scope includes: 

• performing ear surgery 
• diagnosing and treating cancers relating to head, neck, throat
• performing reconstructive and cosmetic surgery on the head and neck 
• treating sinus conditions 
• treating mouth conditions
• treating throat conditions 
• treating hearing problems 
• swallowing issues 
• vocal problems 

Why visit an ENT specialist 

If you experience any abnormality in your ear, nose, or throat, it is probably your body signaling that it is time to visit an ent specialist. While you may attempt to solve your problem with home remedies or by trying out methods online, it is advisable to let a professional ent specialist take care and treat your condition. 

As ent specialists and trained professionals to diagnose and treat conditions related to the ear, nose, and throat, they are better positioned to give you the best advice on your condition because of the knowledge they have acquired in medical school. 

How to become an ENT specialist

All aspiring doctors in Singapore will have to go through 5 years of medical school in local universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). A fresh doctor graduate would be required to work in a public hospital for at least a year to complete their residency programme. For the ent residency programme in Singapore, postgraduates have to undergo vigorous 5-year training and assessments. When the ent resident successfully fulfilled the training requirement, they will become a senior resident. They are required to pass an examination at the end of year two. The ent resident will become an ent specialist when they pass the final examination at the end of the fifth year. 

Are ENT specialists, surgeons 

It is not a well-known fact that an ent specialist is authorised to perform surgeries as well. For most specialists, some physicians and surgeons perform different roles on their patients. For ent specialists they take on the roles and responsibilities of both a physician and a surgeon. 

Types of ENT specialist

Most of the ent specialists have the knowledge and training to manage the majority of ent conditions. There is sub-specialisation for ent specialists, which they would have to spend one to two years abroad for overseas training. The sub specialisations of ent specialists include: 

• facial plastic surgery
• sleep medicine to treat conditions such as snoring 
• pediatric ent for children 
• laryngology for voicebox conditions 
• rhinology and endoscope for nose and sinus conditions
• otology and neurotology for nose conditions 

While a general ent specialist is well-trained to manage most conditions, visiting a sub-specialised ent specialist can be a better option for more severe and complex conditions. 

Visiting an ENT specialist in a public vs private hospital

Cost

The main difference between visiting an ent specialist in a public and private hospital is the charges. For public hospitals, there are two types of patients – subsidised and non-subsidised. A subsidised patient would pay significantly less than a non-subsidised patient for consultations and other services deemed necessary. However, most non-subsidised patients in public hospitals still pay lesser than private patients in private hospitals.

Waiting time 

For public hospitals, the waiting time to see an ent specialist can vary between two weeks to three months from the time of referral for subsidised patients. Patients at public hospitals can expect to from one to three hours or even longer due to the huge number of patients in a morning or afternoon session. 

However, for private patients in private hospitals, patients can either do a walk-in or book a direct appointment with the ent specialist. The waiting time to see an ent specialist in public hospitals is relatively shorter, usually within two weeks. Private patients are less likely to wait for long hours, unlike public hospitals. 

Doctors

In a public hospital, patients are not able to choose the ent specialist they wish to consult. The ent specialist they are assigned to depends on which ent specialist is on duty on their visit. The patients in public hospitals are more likely to see a different ent specialist for their follow-up appointments. 

For private hospitals, the patients can choose which ent specialist they want to see. Their subsequent follow-ups will also be with the same ent specialist at their request. Seeing the same ent specialist have their advantages compared to seeing a different ent specialist each time because patients get more personalised service with the same ent specialist. 

Factors to consider when choosing an ENT specialist 

Location 

When choosing an ent specialist, one of the main concerns is location. When you go for an ent specialist, you are most likely required to visit the same ent specialist for a few sessions for consultation and follow-up on your condition. Hence, choosing an ent specialist near your workplace or home can help save time and cut down on transport costs. 

Cost 

Ent specialists can be quite costly per session, especially if you have a severe condition requiring more sessions. It is advisable to have a budget when choosing an ent specialist. However, the cost of the ent specialist may not always be proportionate to the quality of the ent specialist. 

Testimonials 

The testimonials of the ent specialist is another important factor to consider when choosing an ent specialist. The testimonials of past clients give insight and prediction of your experience with the ent specialist. It would be wise to choose an ent specialist with mostly positive feedback compared to one with many negative comments. 

Conclusion 

Visiting an ent specialist is recommended if you experience persistent problems relating to your ear, nose, or throat. It is important to research the ent specialist you plan to visit to ensure that your time and money are worth it. If you have a budget, going for an ent specialist in a public hospital may be a better option for you. A private hospital would be a better option for those who prefer to see the same ent specialist. However, do note that ent specialists often require patients to return for follow-up sessions, so choose ent specialists wisely. 

Editor’s Note:

While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccurate. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.

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