Hearing and Balance


As experts in conditions that affect the ears, nose and throat, the physicians of Suncoast ENT Surgical Specialists offer services to protect and enhance your hearing. We also treat conditions that affect the delicate structures inside your ears that work together to maintain your balance.

While your family physician has the fundamental knowledge to provide basic treatments for ears, hearing and balance, many conditions require a greater in-depth knowledge, skill and specialized training. The ENT physicians at Suncoast ENT Surgical Specialists are experienced with the following:

Audiology and Hearing Testing


Our experienced audiology staff performs all forms of hearing and balance testing and also provides full evaluation and fitting of hearing aids. As the home of Tampa Speech and Hearing, we have a long proven record of reliable, quality care for our patients. Our audiologists work together with our physicians to provide full-spectrum care. Many cases of treatable hearing loss are diagnosed in our office and can be resolved in the office or in surgery.

Audiological Evaluations

Hearing is carefully assessed to determine the type and severity of the hearing loss. We measure your ability to hear tones as well as to understand speech.

Pediatric Hearing Assessment

Good hearing is essential for a child to develop speech, language, and learning skills. It is important that hearing loss is identified as early to ensure adequate speech and language development. Hearing in infants and toddlers can and should be assessed as early as possible.

Tympanometry

Results of this quick test tell doctors whether there is fluid behind the eardrum, if an ear tube is blocked or if there is a hole in the eardrum.

Audiology FAQ


Tinnitus


Also known as ringing in the ear, tinnitus is an affliction where one hears, either intermittently or continuously, a series of sounds including ringing, hissing, and/or buzzing in the ears. The noise can also vary in degrees of loudness. 

An estimated 50,000,000 adults in the United States suffer from tinnitus, making it one of the most common afflictions in the United States today. In mild cases of tinnitus, it can simply be an annoyance. In the most severe cases, however, it can actually interfere with everyday life. A person who suffers from severe tinnitus will suffer from relationship interference, difficulty concentrating and sleeping, and, as a result of these afflictions, psychological distress.

Rather than being considered a disease, tinnitus is actually a symptom of a larger neurological problem. While it may occur as a standalone symptom, it may also occur in conjunction with vertigo, hearing loss or pressure in the ear.

Tinnitus is described with two types: 
  • Subjective Tinnitus -very common, where the patient perceives the tinnitus noise all on their own
  • Objective Tinnitus -far more uncommon, where both the patient and other listeners can perceive the tinnitus noise

Ear Infections


Otitis is the general medical term that is given to any ear infection. Ear infections cause a range of symptoms in adults and children, and the infections can place you or your child at risk for hearing loss.

Middle Ear Infections in Children


One of the most common conditions that our specialists treat is otitis media, also referred to as a middle ear infection. The most common cause of otitis media is a bacterial or viral infection that causes the middle ear to become inflamed and uncomfortable. The condition is much more common in children than adults. 

Middle Ear Infections in Adults


While middle ear infections are much more common in children, they can still occur in adults at any age. Infections generally occur after the middle ear has become inflamed and traps fluid behind the eardrum. They mostly develop due to allergic irritation, bacterial infections, and viral infections.

Outer Ear Infections


Otitis externa is the medical term for a painful outer ear infection in or around the ear canal. Otitis externa is also known as “swimmer’s ear” due to the fact that it can take place after exposure to water containing bacteria and fungi.

Meniere’s Disease


Meniere’s disease, which is also known as idiopathic endolymphatic hydrops, is a disorder affecting the inner ear marked by dizziness, vertigo, fatigue and hearing loss. The disorder is among the most common culprits for dizziness caused by inner ear problems.

A single ear is involved in many instances, but in around 15% of cases, the problem involves both ears. Meniere’s disease normally occurs in people between 20 and 50 years of age, and the risk is similar for men and women. Because Meniere’s disease has such a significant impact on quality of life, Suncoast ENT Surgical Specialists offer advanced treatments for the condition.

Vertigo (Dizziness)


Dizziness and vertigo are well-known conditions that typically start in the balance system of the inner ear. Here, the signals that are sent from the eyes, bones and joints are shared with the brain and nervous system to coordinate movement. If any of these signals are disrupted, a person may experience balance impairment. Our ENT specialists are board-certified in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, so the residents of Tampa, Spring Hill and surrounding areas in Florida feel confident in their treatment for vertigo/dizziness at Suncoast ENT Surgical Specialists.

What Is Vertigo?


Vertigo, also referred to as a balance disorder, is feeling motion when no motion is occurring. The causes of vertigo include a problem with the inner ear’s balance mechanisms or issues within the brain. Although vertigo is harmless, it can indicate a serious condition if it is accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty speaking or walking, double vision or severe headaches. Even if no other symptoms exist, we recommend that anyone experiencing vertigo be examined by one of our ENT specialists, but treatment is especially important if your symptoms worsen.

What Is Dizziness?


Dizziness is a term used to describe lightheadedness or to feel faint, weak and unsteady. Vertigo is the dizziness that creates the sensation that you or your surroundings are moving or spinning.

Dizziness ranks behind fatigue and chest for the top reasons that adults visit their doctors. Experiencing frequent dizzy spells or constant dizziness may affect your level of productivity, but it is rarely a serious, life-threatening condition. The treatment for dizziness is dependent upon your symptoms and the cause of the condition. The treatments are usually effective.

The Anatomy of Balance


Dizziness and vertigo relate to the sense of balance and equilibrium. Researchers of aeronautical and space medicine refer to this as spatial orientation. Spatial orientation tells the brain where the body is “in space”, the direction it is pointed in, in what direction it is moving and if the body is standing still or turning.

Common Balance Disorders


Some of the more common balance disorders include Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is the result of calcium crystals in the semicircular canals that move with any change in head position. Another balance disorder is Ménière’s disease, a condition that is caused by abnormal levels of fluid in the ears. Labyrinthitis is also a common disorder that causes irritation and swelling of the inner ear.

The types of treatment used depend on the causes of the vertigo or dizziness. Some remedies include medications (sedatives, antibiotics, steroids, and antihistamines), balance retraining exercises (vestibular rehabilitation), surgery, physical therapy and lifestyle changes (changes in diet, avoiding alcohol and nicotine).

Vertigo Diagnosis


Your Suncoast ENT diagnoses vertigo based on your description of your symptoms. Vertigo is divided into two categories, peripheral and central.

Ear Tube Placement


The Eustachian tube functions as the middle ear’s pressure relief valve. Problems with the Eustachian tube can lead to pressure buildup of fluid inside the middle ear, which may lead to chronic ear infections, hearing loss, and problems with speech development and balance. Bilateral Myringotomy and Tubes, or BMT, may be recommended if the condition is unresponsive to other medical intervention.                   

The BMT procedure involves the creation of a tiny opening inside the eardrum to help fluid drain, resulting in the relief of ear pressure. A tube is inserted into the opening to keep it open. The tube stays in place for six months or more and normally falls out on its own, allowing the Eustachian tube to adjust for normal drainage. When the tubes are present, hearing will improve, and fewer ear infections will occur. The procedure is often used in treating children with middle ear infections that do not respond to treatment.

Hearing Aids


Hearing aids have long been on the forefront of treating hearing loss. Modern hearing aids are discreet, powerful devices that amplify and enhance incoming sound to make hearing and speech comprehension easier. Hearing aids help you keep up with the world around you and relieve cognitive stress caused by hearing loss 

Anyone that is experiencing hearing loss in one or both of their ears should take a closer look at the advantages of using hearing aids.

Hearing Aid FAQ


Hearing Aid Repair and Service


Hearing aids come without lifetime guarantees. As with all things, some wear and tear is to be expected. Instead of automatically replacing your damaged hearing aids, bring them to Suncoast ENT Surgical Specialists.

Common hearing aid repairs involve replacing damaged parts, cleaning, and testing the device. Sometimes, if the hearing aid is old or extremely damaged, repairs may involve the faceplate or circuit board. The cost varies depending upon the extent of the repair and warranty coverage. Repairs tend to be more expensive when the hearing aid is over five years old.

In some cases damage or age, Suncoast ENT can help you evaluate the cost benefit of repairing versus replacing your hearing aid. While some devices may be broken beyond repair, we are always ready to connect you with hearing solutions.

Common Hearing Aid Troubleshooting


You may be able to diagnose or even repair your own hearing aid if the situation is not too difficult. There are a number of fixes that you can attempt at home:                   

  • Replacing the battery
  • Cleaning the hearing aid
  • Removing and reinserting the hearing aid
  • Replacing the wax filter
  • Opening and closing the battery compartment
  • Checking the input settings

If you have tried everything you know how to do, but your hearing aid still does not work, contact us so that we can evaluate it and investigate other options regarding your hearing aid repair.

Hearing Aid Brands


Custom Ear Protection


Hearing loss is a risk for people working in many industries, including airplane pilots, musicians, medical professionals and factory workers. It can also affect those who engage in loud activities such as motorcycle riding and target shooting. In any of these scenarios, using hearing protection can make all the difference in preventing hearing loss.

We recommend custom ear protection for those who are at risk for hearing loss due to environmental factors. While the ear plugs found in many retail stores provide some hearing protection, custom earplugs and earmolds are the way to go if you’re looking for maximum protection. Custom earplugs and earmolds are also more comfortable to wear because they are designed to fit your ears.

Custom hearing protection can assist many people at risk for loud noise exposure including:

  • Truck drivers
  • Musicians, DJs and concertgoers
  • Industrial employees
  • Construction crews
  • Medical personnel
  • Motorcycle riders
  • Referees, coaches and athletes
  • Airline employees
  • Band instructors
  • Recording engineers
  • Sounds crews

Mastoidectomy


Middle ear infections that are resistant to antibiotic treatments may stem from a condition related to the mastoid bone of the ear. A mastoidectomy is the surgical removal of an infected portion of the mastoid bone when other medical treatment is not effective.

The need for this medical procedure is a rare occurrence today because of antibiotic treatment. Most often, a mastoidectomy is performed on children who have a high frequency of middle ear infections.

Tympanoplasty


Eardrum perforation is a hole in the eardrum that is typically the result of a middle ear infection. It can also be caused by a sudden change in pressure due to a loud noise, flying in an airplane, or from an object being placed in the ear. If an object penetrates the eardrum, it also sometimes results in the fracturing of small bones within the inner ear called ossicles. Eardrum perforation most frequently affects children, as they tend to get more ear infections than adults.

Eardrum perforation is extremely painful and can cause hearing loss and bleeding from the ear. If the ossicles are broken, then hearing loss can be serious. To diagnose a perforation, a doctor uses a special instrument called an otoscope to look into the ear. If hearing loss is suspected, then a hearing test may be administered.

If the perforation is minor, then treatment is typically not necessary because the hole will close on its own within a few days. If an infection is lingering, then medication or ear drops may be prescribed to help clear it up before the hole closes. If it has been more than three months since the infection healed and the perforation is still not closed, then your doctor may consider fixing the hole through surgical treatment.

The reconstructive procedure performed to repair torn tympanic membranes or ossicles is called tympanoplasty. Tympanoplasty helps restore hearing, prevent middle ear infections and even treats some types of deafness. After taking into consideration your history of infections, age, overall health and certain other factors, your doctor will decide whether or not tympanoplasty is the right choice for you.