Hearing & Balance

Hearing aids are small, battery-operated devices that make sounds louder. They can help people with slight to severe hearing loss. Hearing aids don’t cure hearing loss, but they can make hearing and communicating easier. Most people need one hearing aid for each ear. 

Hearing aids come in many sizes, styles, colors and technology levels. Some are worn in the ear, while others are worn behind the ear. The type of hearing aid that’s best for you depends on your needs, preferences and budget. 

Hearing aid prices include fitting, making sure they work properly and long-term maintenance. Some insurance companies cover some or all of the cost. Call your insurance carrier to find out what your plan covers. We’re also happy to check with your provider for you. 

Hearing aids aren’t the best choice for everyone. If you have severe to profound hearing loss, a cochlear implant might be a better option. It’s a small device that’s placed in the inner ear, where it stimulates the hearing nerve. 

It takes time to learn to hear with a cochlear implant. One of our hearing specialists will help you with this. 

If you have middle or outer ear problems, a bone-conducted hearing system might help. It uses the body’s natural ability to transfer sound through the bones. It can also help patients who have normal hearing in one ear, but severe hearing loss in the other. 

Dizziness is the leading medical complaint in adults ages 70 and older. Often, it’s related to inner ear problems. Proper diagnosis and treatment can help reduce dizziness. In turn, this helps reduce the chance of injuries due to falling. 

The first step is to find out what’s causing the problem. We start by examining each inner ear and doing various tests. Treatment may include medication, lifestyle changes and physical therapy. 

Noise is all around us. It’s also a common cause of hearing loss. That’s because being exposed to loud noise for long periods of time can harm the inner ear, which is very sensitive. 

The good news is that noise-related hearing loss can be prevented. Ask one of our specialists about custom earplugs and hearing protection devices. They help block out sounds and the amount of noise that reaches the ears. 

More than 36 million Americans have tinnitus — a ringing or swishing sound in the ears. In many cases, it’s not serious. It can start in the outer, middle or inner ear, or in the brain. A physical exam and other tests can help determine why you have tinnitus. 

The treatment for tinnitus depends on the cause. In some cases, it may go away on its own. In others, there is no treatment. Your doctor can help you cope with tinnitus and find ways to reduce the intensity of the noise.