Hearing & Ears

Our expert audiologists and hearing instrument specialists work with both adults and children to determine the best possible hearing solution for each individual’s condition. From conventional hearing aids, to digital and programmable hearing devices, we can also recommend a hearing aid that works with your lifestyle. In addition, we provide hearing aid batteries and other supplies and can make repairs so our patients have a one-stop shopping experience.

A painless and non-invasive test, auditory brainstem response, or ABR, is used to test hearing thresholds and assess the functioning of the auditory neural pathway. The ABR can also be used to determine the cause of hearing loss and whether a person might be a good candidate for certain types of treatment.

An otoacoustic emissions test is used to find out how well the inner ear works and can also show if there is a blockage in the middle ear. It measures otoacoustic emissions, or OAEs, which are essentially very soft sounds given off by the inner ear when responding to a sound. Those with normal hearing produce OAEs. Those with hearing loss do not.

Videonystagmography, or VNG, and Electronystagmography, or ENG, are both tests of the vestibular system of the inner ear which controls a person’s balance. Using these tests, our specialists can determine if your dizziness or loss of balance is caused by an inner ear abnormality or other condition.

Our specialists offer in-office CT scanning of the temporal bones to check for any abnormalities or damage that could be affecting hearing.

Sometimes an ear infection or disease can spread to the mastoid, the honeycomb-like bone structure made of air cells behind the ear. When that happens, a simple mastoidectomy – or the surgical removal of the infected air cells – may become necessary. If the mastoid disease is severe, your surgeon may use a modified or radical mastoidectomy which involves the removal of additional parts of the ear such as the middle ear, ear canal or eardrum.

An osseointegrated implant can help patients with hearing loss when no other hearing aid works. The device is implanted in the temporal bone behind the ear so that it can fuse, or osseointegrate, with the bone which then provides transmission of sound through bone conduction.

One of the most commonly performed ear surgeries, a myringotomy is a procedure in which a small hole or incision is created in the eardrum to allow infected fluids to drain. It is used in the treatment of acute or recurrent ear infections or hearing loss due to fluid buildup. In many cases, your doctor may insert tubes so fluids won’t get backed up again.

A stapedectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat otosclerosis, a condition in which abnormal bone growth around the stapes bone in the middle ear or similar condition causes the bone to become fixated or “frozen” in place. Since this bone must move freely in order for a person to hear properly, this surgery is performed and can usually be done as an outpatient procedure.

The insertion of ear tubes to allow for drainage in the ears is called a tympanostomy. It is used to treat or relieve chronic ear infections in the middle ear.