Our Audiologists

Hearing loss is the most prevalent chronic condition in the United States today. Currently it is estimated 31million Americans suffer from hearing loss making communication difficulties more prevalent than both heart disease and arthritis. Approximately 50 percent of older adults suffer from a hearing loss serious enough to effect their communication and interpersonal relationships. Unlike changes in vision, the loss is not easily recognizable and rarely prompts empathy or understanding. Hearing loss has been found to lead to social isolation, depression, paranoia and increased levels suspicion. Failure to respond to a direct question or an incorrect response may lead to being labeled “cognitively impaired”, rather than hearing impaired.

The Audiology department of ENT Medical and Surgical Group, offers a full range of diagnostic audiologic services including comprehensive audiologic assessment, middle ear evaluation, Brainstem Evoked Response testing (ABR, BSER, ASSR), Otoacoustic Emission testing (OAE), Vestibular evaluation including ENG, Rotational Chair and Vestibular Evoked Potentials (VEMP) Tinnitus evaluation and management programs.

Our rehabilitative services include the latest digital amplification as well as a full line of Assistive communication devices. These may include amplified telephones, television amplifiers and FM systems. We offer custom-made earmolds and ear protection devices designed for those exposed to harmful noise (such as musicians, hunters, factory/construction workers etc. We also offer custom molded “swim plugs” that prevent water from entering the ear canal. These plugs are useful for those who have water sensitivity, a hole in the eardrum, or for use with children who have PE-Tubes

What are the common signs of hearing loss?

• Hearing loss can be subtle and emerge slowly, or can be significant and come on suddenly. Either way there are many common indications! You should suspect a hearing loss if you are experiencing any of the following signs:
• Having the television turned up beyond the comfort level of others.
• Difficulty with woman and children’s voices.
• Difficulty hearing on the telephone.
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
• Difficulty hearing in noisy rooms.
• Turning the head to one side in order to hear better.
• Frequent misunderstanding of conversational speech.
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears.

Emotional effects of hearing loss:

• feeling stressed from straining to hear what others are saying.
• feeling annoyed at other people because you can't hear or understand them.
• feeling embarrassed to meet new people or from misunderstanding what others are saying.
  Withdrawing from social situations.

Did you Know?...

• Over 90 million Americans, age 17 and older, have experienced a dizziness or balance problem.
• Balance-related falls account for more than one-half of the accidental deaths in the elderly.
• Dizziness is a common symptom affecting about 30% of people over the age of 65.
• U.S. doctors reported 5,417,000 patient visits in 1991 because of dizziness or vertigo.
• The National Institutes of Health estimate that 545,000 people in the U.S. have Meniere's disease and that only 38,250 are diagnosed each year.
• BPPV Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) is the most frequent cause of vertigo in the elderly. The number of people affected by this disorder each year has been estimated between 10 per 100,000 and 64 per 100,000 people, and some experts feel even more may be affected.