Your Child's First Visit

Prior to your first visit, please take the time to review our website and look for your child's problem in our education center. This will help you better understand what is going on and will help you generate good questions for the doctor.

Some children may be initially concerned about the new experience of coming to the ENT doctor. Many individuals will respond better if they know what to expect beforehand. The exam may consist of several parts, including a visit with our audiologists who have “magic machines” that help perform a painless hearing test. We may also recommend a referral to a speech pathologist who asks children to say all sorts of funny sounds. We also have a great allergy nurse who can do testing right here in the office.

THE ENT EXAM
Our doctors or PA's will examine every child seen in the office. Other hearing, allergy and speech professionals will assist them as indicated. The doctors may use a wide variety of instruments to help examine your child. They will explain any procedures first and always go out of their way to make patients feel comfortable. Patients are thoroughly informed of all examination results. If any additional testing or procedures are recommended, they are fully explained in easy to understand language. A complete report will be sent to the referring physician after each visit.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
You may have the opportunity to visit with one of our nurse educators. They serve as a facilitator between you and the physician. Their role is to help you understand any treatment recommendations and to provide additional educational materials. You may also visit with one of our two outstanding physician assistants. Mike Sieracki, PA-C and Taylor Phillips, PA are both superb physician assistants who recently joined our team. They help the physicians in clinic and also may see your child for post operative visits. Together they are available to answer clinically related questions. Our nurses and PAs work closely with the physicians to provide you with prompt responses and follow up. Any treatment plans discussed are reviewed with the physicians.

RECORDS AND TESTS
If your child’s primary care physician has ordered any tests relevant to your current problem including x-rays or CT scans, please bring them along with you to your visit. Other pertinent information which can be quite helpful would be any outside hearing tests, allergy tests, sleep studies or notes from your pediatrician. This kind of information is vital for our office to review in order to make an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan.