Hearing disorders affect how your ears collect sound or how your brain processes it. They can cause:

• Hearing loss
• Ear ringing
• Dizziness
• Sound sensitivity
• Fullness

Some people have these issues slowly getting worse for a long time. Others may lose hearing suddenly. You may notice that voices sound muffled or that you need to turn up the volume more often.

Many issues can affect how well you hear. Some block sound from reaching your inner ear, while others change the hearing nerves or how the brain processes sound. We do tests to find out the type of hearing disorder you have, which helps us design the best care plan for you.

Hearing loss disorders

Hearing loss disorders make it harder to hear sounds and speech. These are the main types of hearing disorder your ENT team may test for:

• Conductive hearing loss: Blockages or damage in the outer or middle ear prevent sound from passing through.
• Sensorineural hearing loss: Damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve from wear and tear, infections, medicines, or tumors. This is the most common type of permanent hearing loss.
• Mixed hearing loss: You may have both conductive and sensorineural loss.
• Sudden hearing loss: A rapid drop in hearing, often in one ear. This is a medical emergency that needs quick care.

Other common hearing issues

Not all hearing problems involve hearing loss. ENT and audiology experts also treat other common hearing and balance issues. These include:

• Tinnitus: Ringing, buzzing, or humming in the ears when no sound is present 
• Ear infections: Swelling or fluid buildup in the middle or outer ear that can cause temporary hearing loss or pain
• Eardrum perforation: A tear or hole in the eardrum that may affect hearing and balance
• Earwax buildup: Too much earwax can block the ear canal and make sounds seem muffled
• Meniere’s disease: An inner ear issue that causes dizziness, fullness in the ear, and hearing loss that can come and go
• Acoustic neuroma: A tumor on the hearing nerve can cause ringing in one ear
• Auditory processing disorder: When the brain has trouble understanding sounds, even though hearing tests are normal

We tailor your care based on what’s causing your hearing problem. Our ENT and audiology teams use medical, surgical, and device-based treatments. They work to restore your hearing, relieve symptoms, and prevent further loss. Every treatment plan starts with a detailed hearing test to learn about your hearing issues.

Medical care

We can treat some hearing problems with medicine or in-office procedures. 

These may include:

• Removing earwax or trapped fluid
• Treating ear infections with medicine or drainage
• Repairing small holes or tears in the eardrum
• Managing tinnitus with sound therapy or counseling

Hearing devices

Our audiologists and surgeons help you find the right hearing solution for your lifestyle and level of hearing loss. 

These can include:

• Hearing aids to amplify sound and improve clarity
• Cochlear implants for severe or permanent hearing loss

Procedures

When needed, our ENT surgeons use the latest tools and less invasive procedures to fix issues with the ear structures or nerves. Our highly specialized ear doctors, called neurotologists, have extra training in the ear and ear nerves, including complex surgeries.

These may include:

• Middle ear or eardrum repair
• Surgery for bone-related hearing loss, called otosclerosis
• Cochlear implant surgery
• Surgery to remove tumors on the hearing nerves

Your care team will guide you through every step, explain your options, and help you choose what’s best for your hearing health.