Randal Otto, MD is an ENT Specialist practicing at his clinic in San Antonio, TX. He is a registered provider with The Texas Medical Board, practicing under the Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Subtitle B (Medical Practice Act). Dr. Otto is dedicated to providing comprehensive ENT care, focusing on the full spectrum of ear, nose, throat, head, and neck conditions. ENT specialists, also known as otolaryngologists, are medical doctors and surgeons who diagnose and treat a wide array of conditions, from common issues like sinus infections and hearing loss to complex cases such as head and neck cancers, often working in collaboration with your primary care physician. He serves all ages. Please call (210) 450-1500 to confirm if he is currently accepting new patients.
Dr. Randal Otto, MD is an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery specialist in San Antonio, TX and has over 40 years of experience in the medical field. With over 40 years of dedicated experience, he brings a wealth of clinical knowledge and care to his patients. He earned his degree from University Of Missouri, Columbia Campus in 1981, and is Board Certified in Otolaryngology by the American Board of Otolaryngology, and Board Certified in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery by the American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. He is affiliated with SSM Health St. Clare Hospital-Fenton. Dr. Otto is committed to a collaborative, evidence-based approach to medicine, creating a supportive environment where patients and their families feel heard and empowered in their healthcare decisions. Dr. Otto provides consultations primarily in English.
A strong patient-provider partnership is the foundation of effective healthcare. Dr. Otto is committed to being a partner in your health journey, focusing on practical strategies to protect your health and well-being.
Dr. Otto's approach to ENT care prioritizes comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment plans. He meticulously examines each patient's unique needs, utilizing the latest diagnostic tools and evidence-based practices to develop a tailored strategy that addresses both immediate concerns and potential future health risks. This patient-centered approach ensures that every patient receives the highest quality care, from routine checkups to complex surgical interventions.
By working together, you and Dr. Otto can create a clear, actionable plan that respects your individual needs and healthcare goals.
Specific Plans Accepted
Aetna
Also Accepts These Carriers
- BestChoice PPO
- Blue Advantage HMO
- Blue Card High Performance Network HPN
- Blue Card PPO
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
- Blue Essentials HMO
- Choice Plus POS
- Curative
- Curative EPO
- Curative PPO
- Curative PPO Plus
- First Health
- First Health (Coventry Health Care) PPO
- Humana
- Medica Choice
- National POS
- Navigate HMO
- Navigate POS
- Nexus Open Access
- Open Choice PPO
- Options PPO
- Preferred PPO
- UnitedHealthCare
As your primary healthcare provider, Dr. Otto offers expert diagnosis and management for a wide range of common health conditions. Common areas of focus include:
- Sinusitis: When your sinuses get inflamed, causing pain and congestion, an ENT specialist can help relieve your sinusitis symptoms.
- Conductive Hearing Loss: If sound can't travel properly from your eardrum to your inner ear, you have conductive hearing loss; an ENT specialist can identify and fix this problem.
- Hearing Loss Due to Noise: Prolonged exposure to loud sounds can result in hearing loss; an ENT specialist can help you understand your hearing loss and explore options to improve your hearing and prevent further damage.
- Wheezing: If you're wheezing, it means your airways are constricted, making it hard to breathe; an ENT specialist can help identify the problem and provide relief.
- Outer Ear Infection: Swimmer's ear is a type of outer ear infection that ENT doctors frequently treat, often using medications to eliminate the infection and relieve the symptoms.
- Deviated Septum: A deviated septum is a condition where the wall between your nostrils is crooked, potentially causing breathing difficulties, and an ENT doctor can help straighten it.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when your airway is blocked during sleep, leading to pauses in breathing; ENT doctors can identify the cause and suggest solutions like CPAP therapy or surgery.
- Head or Neck Lump or Swelling: If you have a bump or swelling in your head or neck area, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor can diagnose the cause and provide appropriate care, which may include surgery.
- Otitis Media: Earaches and reduced hearing may be signs of otitis media, a middle ear infection that an ENT doctor diagnoses and manages with medication or procedures.
- Acoustic Neuroma: This noncancerous tumor develops on the hearing and balance nerve, often causing hearing loss, dizziness, and ringing in the ears; ENT specialists are equipped to diagnose and treat acoustic neuromas with surgical or nonsurgical approaches.
- Salivary Gland Stones and Inflammation: Salivary gland stones and inflammation cause painful swelling and difficulty swallowing, and an ENT doctor can diagnose and treat these issues, often using minimally invasive procedures.
- Earwax Buildup: Earwax buildup is a common problem where too much earwax blocks the ear canal, potentially causing hearing loss, discomfort, or even infection, and an ENT doctor can safely remove it.
This list represents some of the common conditions treated. An accurate diagnosis and a personalized care plan can only be developed through a direct consultation with a qualified medical professional.
To provide comprehensive and patient-centered care, Dr. Otto offers a range of services designed to diagnose, manage, and treat various health concerns:
- Diagnostic Nasal and Sinus Endoscopy: This procedure involves a small camera being inserted into your nose to visualize your nasal passages and sinuses, helping your doctor identify the cause of your symptoms.
- Ethmoidectomy (Sinus Surgery): An ethmoidectomy is a surgical procedure to open up the sinuses, relieving congestion and reducing the risk of future infections.
- Hearing Screening: A hearing screening involves a series of sounds played at different volumes to assess your hearing ability.
- Perforated Eardrum Repair (Tympanoplasty): Tympanoplasty is a procedure to close a tear or hole in your eardrum, improving hearing and reducing the risk of ear infections.
- Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES): FEES is a test that uses a thin, flexible scope with a camera to examine your throat and see how well you swallow.
- Nasal Septum Surgery (Septoplasty): A deviated nasal septum can make breathing difficult; septoplasty corrects this by straightening the nasal cartilage and bone.
- Sphenoidotomy (Sinus Surgery): Sphenoidotomy is a sinus surgery to open up the sphenoid sinus, improving drainage and relieving sinus infections.
- Tracheal Surgery: If you have a blockage or injury in your trachea, tracheal surgery might be needed to restore airflow.
- Intranasal or Sinus Procedure: Expect a procedure through your nose to address nasal or sinus problems; this may involve removing polyps, improving drainage, or taking tissue samples for testing.
- Rhinoseptoplasty: This surgery corrects a crooked nasal septum, improving airflow and reducing nasal congestion.
- Middle Ear Implant Candidacy Evaluation: This consultation helps determine whether a middle ear implant is a suitable solution for your specific hearing challenges and health condition.
- Audiometry: It's a painless procedure that helps diagnose hearing problems and determine the best course of action to improve your hearing.
Service availability can change. To understand which services are appropriate for your specific health needs, please schedule a consultation to develop a personalized care plan.
All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for their professional license in Texas.
Dr. Otto is dedicated to partnering with patients to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how proactive care can make a tangible difference in a patient's life:
- After receiving a clear diagnosis and treatment plan, a patient experienced significant relief from their chronic sinusitis, allowing them to return to their normal activities without discomfort.
- After receiving a clear diagnosis and personalized treatment plan from an ENT specialist, a patient successfully managed their conductive hearing loss, regaining the ability to fully enjoy conversations and daily sounds.
These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results vary and depend on many factors. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.
- Primary Location:
Practice
7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX, 78229
Phone: (210) 450-1500
View on Map - Practice
8300 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX, 78229
Phone: (210) 450-9950
View on Map
- UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI / COLUMBIA CAMPUS (Medical School) - 1981
- American Board of Otolaryngology (Otolaryngology)
- American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery)
Here are answers to some common questions about receiving ENT care with Dr. Otto:
- What kind of conditions does an ENT specialist treat?
- Dr. Otto, an otolaryngologist, is a medical doctor and surgeon who treats a wide range of conditions affecting the head and neck. This includes ear problems like infections and hearing loss, nasal and sinus issues like allergies and sinusitis, and throat conditions such as voice disorders and swallowing problems. He is also skilled in thyroid surgery and the treatment of head and neck tumors.
- Do I need a referral to see an ENT?
- Dr. Otto's office accepts many insurance plans. While some, like HMOs, require a referral from your primary care physician, others, like PPOs, do not. Please check with your insurance provider to understand your specific coverage and referral requirements before scheduling an appointment.
- My child gets a lot of ear infections. Do they need ear tubes?
- Ear tubes, also known as tympanostomy tubes, are often recommended for children with recurrent middle ear infections or persistent fluid in the ear that affects hearing. The tiny tubes help ventilate the middle ear and prevent fluid buildup. Dr. Otto can evaluate your child to see if they are a good candidate for this common and safe procedure.
- What is a hearing test (audiogram) like?
- Dr. Otto will conduct a simple, painless hearing test in a soundproof booth. You will wear headphones and indicate when you hear tones at different pitches and volumes. This helps Dr. Otto determine if you have any hearing loss and its severity.
- What is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?
- Dizziness is a general feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness. Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness, often involving a spinning sensation, as if you or the room is moving. Dr. Otto can perform tests to diagnose the cause of vertigo, which frequently originates in the inner ear.
- Is it normal for my voice to be hoarse for a long time?
- Hoarseness from a cold or overuse should improve within a couple of weeks. If hoarseness persists longer than 2-3 weeks, it's important to see an ENT like Dr. Otto for evaluation. Dr. Otto can perform a laryngoscopy to identify the cause, which could be acid reflux, vocal cord nodules, or other issues.
- I found a lump in my neck. What should I do?
- While many neck lumps are benign, like swollen lymph nodes from an infection, any persistent lump warrants evaluation. Dr. Otto is an expert in diagnosing head and neck masses and can perform a thorough examination, including a biopsy if needed, to determine the cause.
- What is sleep apnea and how can an ENT help?
- Sleep apnea is a condition where the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, causing pauses in breathing. Dr. Otto, an ENT specialist, can examine the entire airway to identify the specific areas of blockage. He can offer a range of treatments, including surgical options, that are not available from other sleep specialists.
7703 Floyd Curl Dr
San Antonio TX 78229
Phone: (210) 450-1500
Randal Otto, MD is regulated by the Texas Occupations Code, Title 3, Subtitle B (Medical Practice Act) in Texas and is licensed by The Texas Medical Board.
National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1871504662
Registration can typically be verified through The Texas Medical Board website or by direct inquiry.
The information on this profile, provided by kellysearch.com, is for informational purposes to help you connect with local healthcare providers. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the provider named. Healthcare providers like Dr. Randal Otto are trained to manage a wide range of health concerns. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. Always consult with a qualified medical professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your care plan.