Diagnosis by Thoughtful Assessments and Examinations
Get to the bottom of your ear symptoms and concerns by visiting Ear and Balance Clinic. Drawing on years of experience following the teachings of world renowned William House, M.D., D.D.S., our team of ear care professionals provide comprehensive balance and hearing assessments, along with treatment options for a full range of hearing, balance, and ear disorders.
For patients that suffer from dizziness or imbalance, we offer medical management, Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, and the Epley (canalith-repositioning maneuver), when warranted. It is our priority to reduce your inner ear related symptoms, reduce your risk of falling. Our goal is to improve your quality of life when we comprise your individualized treatment plan.
Otologic Disorders We Treat or rehabilitate:
Acoustic Neuroma: Benign growth arising from the hearing and balance nerve deep to the inner ear. Symptoms include slowly progressive imbalance, unilateral tinnitus, dizziness, and asymmetric hearing loss.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Symptoms of spinning, movement, disorientation, disequilibrium, brought on by particular head/body movements or positions.
Cholesteatoma: Cyst that occurs behind the eardrum and perforates the tympanic membrane, eroding ossicles; can spread throughout mastoid bone and related structures.
Eardrum Perforation: Opening in the tympanic membrane typically from infection, inflammation, or trauma.
Endolymphatic Hydrops: Elevated inner ear fluid pressure. Symptoms of hydrops include pressure or fullness in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness, and imbalance.
"Surfer's Ear" Exostosis: Bony growths in the external auditory canal; commonly occurs after years of exposure to the forceful rush of cold water while surfing in the ear canal, which leads to plugging, infections, ear blockage, and hearing loss.
Glomus Tumor: Vascular benign tumor arising from veins in bone around the structures of hearing and balance.
Meniere's Disease: Disorder in the regulation of inner ear fluid pressure resulting in fluctuating nerve hearing loss, episodes of severe spinning vertigo, tinnitus, and often a sensation of fullness or pressure in the ears or head.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL): Exposure to loud sound(s) resulting in sustained hearing impairments or permanent damage to the hair cells of the inner ear.
Otitis Media: Inflammation or infection marked by an accumulation of pus or fluid in the middle ear space.
Otosclerosis: A disease of the bone that surrounds the inner ear that results in hearing loss most commonly from reduced vibration of the stapes bone; one of the most correctable causes of hearing loss.
Polyp: Benign inflammatory growth occurring in the external canal, on the eardrum, or in the middle ear.
Presbycusis: Permanent partial hearing loss that occurs with aging; can be improved by a properly fit hearing aid.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Onset of hearing loss within minutes to hours that involves the inner ear, usually from viral or small vessel causes; often improved by prompt medical treatment.
Temporal Bone Fractures: Caused by high force trauma such as motor vehicle accidents or blows to the head or face.
Tinnitus: Ringing, buzzing, or other abnormal noises in the ears or head that is not generated by an external source; often the sign of an otologic disorder and usually improved with treatment, including masking techniques.
