Audiology

Hearing and balance disorders are a very common problem that affects people of all ages.

Our audiologists will work with your physician at Bellevue ENT to properly evaluate and diagnose the cause of hearing loss or dizziness while helping to offer appropriate treatment options.

A patient having their ear examined.

Comprehensive Hearing Evaluation

Having your hearing and ears checked is more than a little light and listening for soft beeps. There are several diagnostic measures an Audiologist or ENT will perform to give a well-rounded evaluation to ensure proper diagnosis and recommendations.

A diagnostic hearing evaluation includes several tests to determine the type and degree of hearing loss.

Pure tone air and bone conduction testing is performed to determine whether the hearing loss is mechanical in nature (conductive) or whether it involves the cochlea, auditory nerve (sensorineural), or both.

Speech discrimination testing is performed to determine how well speech is understood when it is presented at a comfortable loudness level for you.

Tympanometry is also performed and assesses middle ear function, giving information about the presence of fluid in the middle ear and mobility of the middle ear system.

Otoacoustic emissions are performed to objectively measure the status of cochlear outer hair cell function. 

Dizziness and Balance

Many people think of dizziness as a medical diagnosis, but most people mean different things when using the term. When medical professionals hear someone say dizziness, it can mean an array of things and is seen as an umbrella term for a range of sensations. Dizziness can describe feeling faint, weak or unsteady, wooziness, and may indicate conditions like vertigo. Often, dizziness can indicate a problem or disease within the ear and should be assessed with a hearing test by an ENT or Audiologist. If further follow-up and examination is needed, your ENT will likely refer you for a VNG test.

Close-up of a woman's eyes as she follows a doctor's movement.

Videonystagmography (VNG) Testing

VNG testing assesses the vestibular (balance) system by tracking a patient’s eye movements using infrared cameras attached to goggles. During the assessment, the patient will be asked to move his or her head and body into certain positions and instructed to look at various objects. The final part of the assessment also involves blowing cool and warm air into each ear canal to stimulate the peripheral vestibular system (inner ear) directly. This final part may result in a temporary turning sensation that will only last a few minutes.

A doctor with her patient, having a discussion.

Treatment

Treating an ear or hearing condition depends on the problem itself. After a proper evaluation, a doctor will discuss treatment options and will make recommendations based on your medical history and the evaluations performed.

Hearing Aids

If hearing aids are indicated, we will schedule you for a hearing aid evaluation to determine the best type of hearing aid for you. We will discuss your hearing problems and find out about the listening situations that are difficult for you. We will review the pros and cons of various technologies and styles of aids and determine which models best match your hearing loss, lifestyle, listening needs, and budget.

We dispense a wide variety of manufacturers and models. As an independent clinic, we are not limited to any one brand or model. This allows us to fit you with the right hearing instrument for your hearing loss and individual needs.

We test the function of your hearing aids via real ear measurement to determine whether a hearing aid meets its prescribed target levels while in the ear.

Products

Technology has improved dramatically in recent years. Aids now provide great sound quality and automatic processing while also looking good and discrete. Wireless connectivity and rechargeable batteries are also widely available.

Remember, your hearing loss didn’t happen overnight. It may take a while to get the maximum benefit you are hoping for, and out experienced, highly-trained Doctors of Audiology will help to guide you through this process every step of the way. 

Various hearing aids displayed around an ear model.
A woman gardening with her daughter while wearing a Cochlear Implant.

Cochlear Implants & Bone Anchored Implants

If your hearing loss has progressed to where hearing aids are only minimally helpful, you may want to consider accessories or surgical solutions such as a cochlear implant or BAHA.