Medical/Non-Surgical Ear Infections Hearing Loss Balance Disorders Dizziness Ear Wax Middle Ear Fluid Facial Weakness Meniere’s Disease Sudden Hearing Loss Tinnitus Acoustic Neuroma Eustachian Tube Problems Surgical Chronic Ear Infections Cholesteatoma Otosclerosis Acoustic Neuroma Meniere’s Disease Cochlear Implantation Glomus Tumors Eustachian Tube Problems Services Offered AUDIOLOGY Diagnostic Audiometry – The diagnositic hearing test involves testing both ears individually. Each ear’s sensitivity to sound is measured at a full range of pitches, from low tones (bass) to high tones (treble). Speech audiometry is performed to provide information on how well words can be understood at a comfortable volume. The pattern of hearing, or hearing loss, often indicates a specific disorder of the hearing and/or balance system. Tympanometry – Tympanometry provides information about the mobility and status of the tympanic membrane (eardrum). It also tests for abnormal pressure and fluid within the middle ear. Auditory Brainstem Response Testing (ABR) – ABR testing provides information regarding the function of the auditory nerve and central auditory pathways. The cochlea generates an electrical nerve impulse in response to sound stimulation. This electrical signal can be tracked through the nervous system non-invasively by sensors placed on the skin of the head. ABR testing does not depend on responses from the patient, and is therefore often useful in testing infants and young children. Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) – OAEs are created by the sensory (hair) cells within the cochlea in response to sound. OAE testing provides information regarding the function of these hair cells and the presence of a functional hearing mechanism. OAE testing does not depend on responses from the patient, and is therefore often useful in testing infants and young children. HEARING AIDS Hearing aid technology has exploded in recent years. A tremendous number of options to achieve improved hearing are available. Hearing aid styles range from the completely-in-the-canal to behind-the-ear models. Computerized, state of the art digitally programmable hearing aids are available and, in many cases, provide improved speech understanding in noise. Multi-memory instruments are available that provide different responses for different acoustic environments, so that optimal hearing may be achieved in various settings. Self-regulating and very small hearing aids are available. You, your family, your doctor and audiologist should discuss the hearing aid alternatives. Then you can determine which type will best serve your needs. Hearing aids worn in both ears are called binaural hearing aids. There are a number of advantages to the patient in the use of aids in each ear. Binaural fitting will usually allow a patient to have balanced hearing, with speech perceived equally loud in the two ears. This will permit localization of sound. The most important advantage, however, is that most hearing aid users are able to understand speech in a noisy background much better than when an aid is used only in one ear. Furthermore, using two aids results in a significant increase in loudness of sound due to binaural summation. The effect on this is that the volume control may be reduced for each ear and this in turn will lessen the impact of background noise. In many instances hearing aids may be used to alleviate or control distressing head noise (tinnitus). Hearing aid amplification may effectively mask out (keep the wearer from hearing) the tinnitus.