Original research · 2026-07 edition

AI SEO Statistics: Otolaryngology (2026-07 edition)

40 questions · 120 AI responses · 3 models · measured 2026-07-06

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The question bank

The questions we tested — sampled from real buyer journeys in otolaryngology.

Each model answered every question once, same wording, same day. These are the prompts behind every percentage on this page.

Why does my ear feel plugged even after using OTC drops for a week?
Is it better to see an ENT or an allergist for chronic sinus infections?
How much does a typical consultation for a deviated septum cost without insurance?
What are the red flags to look for when choosing a surgeon for a tonsillectomy?
Can an ENT help with sleep apnea or should I go to a sleep clinic first?
My toddler has had three ear infections in four months; is it time for tubes?
What's the difference between a general ENT and a neurotologist for vertigo?
How do I know if my hearing loss is permanent or just a blockage?
Show all 40 questions
Are those micro-suction ear cleaning services safer than syringing?
What questions should I ask an ENT before agreeing to sinus surgery?
Is a persistent hoarse voice a reason to see a specialist or just wait it out?
How long is the recovery time for a rhinoplasty if it's for breathing issues?
Do ENTs usually handle thyroid nodules or should I see an endocrinologist?
I have a constant ringing in my ears; what tests will an ENT actually run?
Is it worth paying for a private ENT clinic vs waiting for a referral through my GP?
Can an ENT fix a snoring problem that is ruining my marriage?
What are the signs that my sinus pressure is actually a fungal infection?
How do I find an ENT who specializes in pediatric airway issues?
Why is there a six-month wait for some ENT specialists in my city?
Can an ENT help with chronic acid reflux if it is affecting my throat?
What's the average price for professional earwax removal in a metropolitan area?
Should I be worried about a small lump right under my jawline?
Are there any non-surgical treatments for a deviated septum that actually work?
How do I verify if an ENT is board-certified in facial plastic surgery?
What should I do if I suddenly lose hearing in one ear on a weekend?
Is it normal for an ENT to recommend a CT scan on the first visit?
How does a balloon sinuplasty compare to traditional sinus surgery in terms of cost and results?
Do I need a referral to see an ENT if I have a PPO insurance plan?
What's the success rate for surgery to fix chronic vertigo?
My nose is always stuffy at night; could it be nasal polyps?
How can I tell if an ENT office has the latest diagnostic equipment?
Are there specific ENTs who focus only on professional singers and voice disorders?
Is it cheaper to get hearing aids through an ENT or a big-box retailer?
What are the risks of ignoring a persistent earache in an adult?
How do I compare patient reviews for ENTs when some seem fake?
Can an ENT diagnose the cause of my chronic bad breath if my dentist says my teeth are fine?
What are the most common complications of adult tonsillectomies I should know about?
Is a coblation tonsillectomy better than the standard method?
How do I know if my sinus headaches are actually migraines?
What's the difference in expertise between an ENT and an oral surgeon for jaw pain?

Model by model

16-point average divergence: which AI you ask changes the answer.

The divergence index is the average gap between the most and least likely model per behavior. Higher = the models disagree more about otolaryngology buyers.

Behavior rates across 40 otolaryngology buyer questions, 2026-07 edition. Last column: average across models.
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiConsensus
Recommends hiring a professional75%78%53%65%
Suggests DIY first25%15%5%78%
Names specific providers5%8%3%90%
Gives price or cost info5%8%5%93%
Tells to check reviews5%5%3%98%
Tells to verify credentials13%15%5%80%
Mentions case studies / portfolio0%0%0%100%
Mentions local proximity15%23%8%73%
Gives selection criteria30%40%30%60%
Warns about red flags13%15%5%83%
Asks a clarifying question63%68%0%13%
Recommends multiple quotes5%8%0%90%

By model

How each assistant handled Otolaryngology questions.

Reading the 120 answers model by model shows how differently the three assistants treat the same otolaryngology questions. On the most consequential behavior — whether to send the buyer to a professional at all — the rate ranged from 77.5% (Claude) down to 52.5% (Gemini), a 25-point gap on an identical question set.

Across the 40 otolaryngology answers it produced, ChatGPT recommended hiring a professional in 75% of them and suggested a DIY approach first 25% of the time. It named a specific provider in 5% of answers (about 0.1 distinct providers per answer) and included price or cost information 5% of the time. ChatGPT asked a clarifying question before answering in 62.5% of cases, warned about red flags or scams in 12.5%, and told the buyer to verify credentials in 12.5%, averaging 432 words per answer. On the remaining cues it told the buyer to check reviews in 5%, pointed to case studies or a portfolio in 0%, and framed the choice around local proximity in 15%; a selection-criteria checklist appeared in 30% of its answers and a recommendation to gather multiple quotes in 5%.

Across the 40 otolaryngology answers it produced, Claude recommended hiring a professional in 77.5% of them and suggested a DIY approach first 15% of the time. It named a specific provider in 7.5% of answers (about 0.2 distinct providers per answer) and included price or cost information 7.5% of the time. Claude asked a clarifying question before answering in 67.5% of cases, warned about red flags or scams in 15%, and told the buyer to verify credentials in 15%, averaging 281 words per answer. On the remaining cues it told the buyer to check reviews in 5%, pointed to case studies or a portfolio in 0%, and framed the choice around local proximity in 22.5%; a selection-criteria checklist appeared in 40% of its answers and a recommendation to gather multiple quotes in 7.5%.

Across the 40 otolaryngology answers it produced, Gemini recommended hiring a professional in 52.5% of them and suggested a DIY approach first 5% of the time. It named a specific provider in 2.5% of answers (about 0.1 distinct providers per answer) and included price or cost information 5% of the time. Gemini asked a clarifying question before answering in 0% of cases, warned about red flags or scams in 5%, and told the buyer to verify credentials in 5%, averaging 281 words per answer. On the remaining cues it told the buyer to check reviews in 2.5%, pointed to case studies or a portfolio in 0%, and framed the choice around local proximity in 7.5%; a selection-criteria checklist appeared in 30% of its answers and a recommendation to gather multiple quotes in 0%.

Taken together, Claude is the assistant most likely to route an otolaryngology buyer to a professional (77.5%) and Gemini the least (52.5%). ChatGPT produced the longest answers, at 432 words on average. Specific providers were named most often by Claude (7.5%) — even there, roughly one answer in 13 carried a name.

Where they disagree

The behaviors where the choice of model changes the answer.

The divergence index for this study is 15.6 points — the average distance between the most and least likely model across the coded behaviors. The gaps below are where which assistant an otolaryngology buyer happens to ask matters most:

  • Asks a clarifying question: from 0% (Gemini) to 67.5% (Claude) — a 68-point spread.
  • Recommends hiring a professional: from 52.5% (Gemini) to 77.5% (Claude) — a 25-point spread.
  • Suggests a DIY approach first: from 5% (Gemini) to 25% (ChatGPT) — a 20-point spread.
  • Mentions local proximity: from 7.5% (Gemini) to 22.5% (Claude) — a 15-point spread.
  • Tells the buyer to verify credentials: from 5% (Gemini) to 15% (Claude) — a 10-point spread.

The widest single gap — asks a clarifying question, 68 points — means an otolaryngology buyer can receive materially different guidance on the same question depending only on which assistant they happen to open, so any visibility strategy built on a single model's behavior describes only part of the otolaryngology market.

Where they agree

The points of near-consensus in Otolaryngology.

On other behaviors the three models move almost in lockstep — the points of near-consensus for otolaryngology, where all three landed within a few points of each other:

  • Mentions case studies or portfolio: 0% across all three models.
  • Gives price or cost information: 5%–7.5% across all three (a 3-point spread).
  • Tells the buyer to check reviews: 2.5%–5% across all three (a 3-point spread).
  • Names a specific provider: 2.5%–7.5% across all three (a 5-point spread).

Measured question by question, the three assistants coded a response the same way most consistently on "mentions case studies or portfolio" (identical coding in 100% of questions) and least consistently on "asks a clarifying question" (12.5%).

Every behavior, measured

All twelve coded behaviors for Otolaryngology, averaged across the three models.

The behaviors AI models reproduce most often for otolaryngology are recommends hiring a professional (68.3% on average), asks a clarifying question (43.3%) and gives selection criteria (33.3%); the rarest are mentions case studies or portfolio (0%), recommends multiple quotes (4.2%) and tells the buyer to check reviews (4.2%). Each figure below is the share of a model's 40 answers in which the behavior appeared at least once, averaged across the 3 models with the full per-model range in parentheses:

  • Recommends hiring a professional: 68.3% on average (ChatGPT 75%, Claude 77.5%, Gemini 52.5%) — a 25-point spread.
  • Asks a clarifying question: 43.3% on average (ChatGPT 62.5%, Claude 67.5%, Gemini 0%) — a 68-point spread.
  • Gives selection criteria: 33.3% on average (ChatGPT 30%, Claude 40%, Gemini 30%) — a 10-point spread.
  • Suggests a DIY approach first: 15% on average (ChatGPT 25%, Claude 15%, Gemini 5%) — a 20-point spread.
  • Mentions local proximity: 15% on average (ChatGPT 15%, Claude 22.5%, Gemini 7.5%) — a 15-point spread.
  • Tells the buyer to verify credentials: 10.8% on average (ChatGPT 12.5%, Claude 15%, Gemini 5%) — a 10-point spread.
  • Warns about red flags or scams: 10.8% on average (ChatGPT 12.5%, Claude 15%, Gemini 5%) — a 10-point spread.
  • Gives price or cost information: 5.8% on average (ChatGPT 5%, Claude 7.5%, Gemini 5%) — a 3-point spread.
  • Names a specific provider: 5% on average (ChatGPT 5%, Claude 7.5%, Gemini 2.5%) — a 5-point spread.
  • Tells the buyer to check reviews: 4.2% on average (ChatGPT 5%, Claude 5%, Gemini 2.5%) — a 3-point spread.
  • Recommends multiple quotes: 4.2% on average (ChatGPT 5%, Claude 7.5%, Gemini 0%) — a 8-point spread.
  • Mentions case studies or portfolio: 0% on average (ChatGPT 0%, Claude 0%, Gemini 0%).

Trust signals

How well the models protect the otolaryngology buyer.

Beyond whether to hire, the rubric codes how carefully each assistant protects the otolaryngology buyer once a decision is made. Telling the buyer to check reviews or ratings appeared in 4.2% of answers on average. Verifying credentials or certifications appeared in 10.8%. Warning about red flags or scams appeared in 10.8%.

On structuring the decision, a selection-criteria checklist showed up in 33.3% of answers on average and a recommendation to gather multiple quotes in 4.2%. The single least-reproduced protective signal for otolaryngology is "tells the buyer to check reviews" at 4.2% on average — the clearest opening for content that supplies it, since the models are not yet reliably surfacing that guidance on their own.

Referral behavior

Do AI models name Otolaryngology providers?

For service providers the decisive question is whether these systems name anyone at all. Across 120 otolaryngology answers, a specific provider was named in 5% of responses on average — roughly 0.1 distinct providers per answer. In practice the assistants behave far more as an explanatory layer than as a referral engine for otolaryngology: visibility comes from being the reasoning a model reproduces, not from being the named recommendation.

The question set

What these 40 Otolaryngology questions cover.

The 40 questions behind every percentage on this page were drawn from real otolaryngology (healthcare services; buyer hiring decisions for this specific service) buyer journeys. Each was put to all 3 models once, with identical wording, so the rates above describe how the assistants handled this exact otolaryngology question set — not a general prior or a hand-picked subset. The full list is shown earlier on this page; the coded percentages are what those specific questions produced.

How to read this

A note on the numbers.

A percentage here is the share of a model's 40 answers in which the behavior appeared at least once — not a confidence score. Because each model answered every question exactly once on 2026-07-06, the figures describe this specific otolaryngology question set and snapshot rather than a general prior. The full protocol and coding rubric are documented in the study methodology.

Methodology

A controlled snapshot, documented end to end.

40 standardized buyer questions per industry, one response per model per question (ChatGPT (gpt-5-mini), Claude (claude-sonnet-5), Gemini (gemini-3-flash-preview)), collected 2026-07-06, coded against a fixed 12-behavior rubric with human QA. AI outputs vary with model version, location and time — figures describe this sample and window, and are refreshed each edition. Read the full methodology →