I've worked in large ENT groups that were just surgery and audio factories (I didn't stay long in those) and others that were truly a specialty office where audiology was treated like the specialty it is.
Expect the following:
- You will learn to be fast paced in testing and will learn to get quick at getting results
- You will see a lot of crazy middle ear stuff and depending on the surgeons abilities you might see BAHA's, middle ear implants, and strange middle ear disorders
- You will be worked hard and usually not reimbursed well, but sometimes this isn't always the case
What to be weary of:
- See how the ENT docs treat the staff and the audiologist, do they treat them like an equal? Like an employee? Like a slave that is just there to crank out audios? OR do they actually respect what the audiologist does?
How can you tell this? See how the ENT doc and the audiologist interact. Some of the best ENT docs I've worked with will actually look at an Audio and ask me what I think is going on and if the pt would be better off with surgery or a hearing aid in my opinion. Others have just treated me like an audiometer dial turner.
We have had this Anti-ENT mentality pounded into our heads for years, but the truth is the ENT's can be our best ally in this field. They usually get what we do and the importance of it and let us be professionals. Some don't and it's not that they have a beef against audiology, if you watch them they probably treat nurses, PT's, nurse practitioners, and physician's assistants like they are idiots and slaves. There are plenty of docs like them and they aren't just ENT's.
Go check the office out and see how the docs interact with staff and see what the scope of services offered is. Who knows you might really click with them. If you don't no biggie, find a new placement. ENT offices are a dime a dozen in most areas.