Hearing Aid Canton and Jasper

Surgery

In this section, causes of hearing loss that can be corrected with surgical procedures will be described. Many times the surgery can be performed as outpatient or even in office with only topical or local anesthesia. To determine if a hearing loss can be improved with surgery we urge patients to obtain a simple test: A hearing test. With a hearing test and a thorough medical exam an accurate determination of the cause of the hearing loss is possible.

External Ear


		EAR WAX Hearing loss can be caused by blockages of the ear canal that normally channels sounds toward the ear drum. The most common cause I see in my office is ear wax. Typically using q-tips are the reason that ear wax is pushed against the ear drum and limits the amount of sound getting into the inner ear. Treating this common problem in the office involves removing the wax under a microscope to avoid injury to the ear canal or ear drum. Imagine coming to the office with difficulty hearing, then after a simple procedure, leave with perfect hearing!


		FOREIGN BODY Many objects can become lodged in the ear and can block hearing. This typically occurs in children but can occur in adults. Removal in the office under a microscope is a relatively painless and very effective way to improve hearing with this problem.


		EAR CANAL TUMOR Most blockages of the ear canal are relatively benign, however; we must also be diligent in identifying malignant tumors which are fortunately rare. They are often associated with intense pain and bleeding. When identified they will need specialized removal under anesthesia and radiation therapy. Prognosis is good if these are identified early.

Middle Ear

MIDDLE EAR EFFUSION
Fluid in the middle ear from infection, allergy or eustachian tube blockage can cause build up of fluid in the middle ear. This results in reduced sound conduction to the inner ear and hearing loss. The second slide shows a tube in the middle ear that effectively resolves the fluid and improves hearing loss. This procedure is done under local anesthesia in the office in adults, however; children require general anesthesia.


		TYMPANIC MEMBRANE PERFORATION The left slide shows the appearance of the normal ear drum. The right side shows a perforation of the ear drum which has caused a hearing loss. Perforations of the ear drum are usually caused by trauma, such as a q-tip or recurrent infection. Many times, 90% of perforations heal without treatment. When the perforation persists and will not heal then repair of the ear drum will restore hearing. If the perforations are small the repair can be performed in the office under local anesthesia. Larger perforations may require general anesthesia in the operating room.

OTOSCLEROSIS
Behind the ear drum are bones (ossicles) that conduct sound energy from the ear drum into the inner ear or cochlea. A common problem with the ossicles that can cause reversile hearing loss is called otosclerosis. From the slide you can see that there is fixation of the stapes bone with an overgrowth of bony tissue. This inhibits the stapes from vibrating as it should that causes hearing loss. The solution for this problem is a hearing aid or surgery to replace the stapes bone with a prosthesis that transmits sound into the inner ear.

Inner Ear


		ACOUSTIC NEUROMA An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that can cause hearing loss only in the affected ear. The tumor slowly grows from the insulator portion of the auditory nerve. This causes pressure to be exerted on the nerve that causes the nerve to malfunction and result in hearing loss in only one ear. Treatment of this rare tumor involves surgery or in smaller tumors, radiation therapy.


		SUDDEN HEARING LOSS Sudden hearing loss is an immediate loss of hearing in one ear. It usually occurs in conjunction with a viral infection that causes damage to the sensitive nerve endings in the cochlea. THis results in hearing loss to the point of complete deafness in one ear. Delivery of steroid medications to the inner ear with a Silverstein Microwick can result in dramatic hearing improvement when started quickly enough. This procedure is performed in the office setting under local anesthesia..

BAHA
(Bone Anchored Hearing Aid)

When traditional hearing aids don't work we consider performing a state of the art surgery for an implantable hearing aid called a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid ( BAHA). This hearing aid requires an outpatient surgery that allows hearing to be conducted through the patients skull bones which provides the patient with astoundingly clear hearing. This procedure is most beneficial for patients who have had previous mastoid surgery or when they have deafness in one ear with the opposite ear having near normal hearing. The results of the BAHA are miraculous and enable patients to hear who were completely deaf in the involved ear previously.

The Baha System
Sound Processor
Diagram

The Baha® System

1 - A sound processor picks up sound vibrations.

2 - An abutment is attached to the sound processor and the implant. The abutment transfers the sound vibrations from the processor to the implant.

3 - A small titanium implant is placed in the bone behind the ear where it fuses with the living bone. This process is called osseointegration. The implant transfers the sound vibrations to the functioning cochlea.

What does the sound processor look like?

Baha system Diagram

1 - Baha Sound Processor

2 - Abutment

3 - Titanium Implant

Meniere's Disease

Meniere's Disease is caused by overproduction of inner ear fluid called perilymph. This results in attacks of vertigo, ear fullness, and hearing loss. Deliver of gentamycin to the inner ear can reduce the attacks of disabling vertigo. Gentamycin is delivered via the Silverstein microwick. The microwick is surgically placed as an office procedure under local anesthesia.

Contact our office for an evaluation to determine how you can hear better.
Office: 770-345-1548 email: audiologist@ent-specialist.org

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