Audiology

Hearing Services

Our audiologist treats patients with hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, chronic ear infections, tympanic membrane perforations, and speech delays. Specialized services include Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and hearing tests on infants.

Do I Need an Audiologist?

Hearing loss is something almost everyone will experience to some degree during their lifetime. Not all hearing loss requires treatment, but it is important to have it monitored so that your care professional can help you to prevent further damage.

The following symptoms and conditions could be indicators that you need to see an audiologist:

• Difficulty hearing others speak
• Listening to TV at a high volume
• A head injury accompanied by dizziness or ringing in the ears
• A parent or immediate family member with Meniere’s disease
• Frequent feelings of dizziness or vertigo
• Ringing sound in the ears (tinnitus)
• Hearing loss that gets worse over time
• Irregular results on hearing tests
• Excess earwax that has hardened

The inner ear is home to the vestibular system, which regulates your sense of balance. This is why conditions of the ear often are often related to balance disorders. An audiologist can diagnose these disorders and start putting together a treatment plan.

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s disease is a hereditary condition that affects the inner ear, usually in just one ear. It typically occurs in patients between the ages of 40 and 60, but it can occur at any time. There is no cure for Meniere’s disease, but the symptoms can be treated and managed.

Symptoms of the disease vary from person to person. However, some common symptoms include hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, and pressure in the ear. These symptoms can occur every once in a while or on a daily basis – it depends on the individual patient. Symptoms of Meniere’s disease can get worse over time, so it is important to have a trusted provider assist you in controlling the symptoms.

For more information, please call 812.996.0227.