We often take for granted the ability to hear a child’s laugh, a bird singing, or a favorite song. But when you’re living with an ear or hearing condition, those simple joys can suddenly seem out of reach. Your hearing plays a vital role in communication, balance, and overall quality of life.
At WMCHealth’s Advanced ENT Services, our highly trained ENT specialists provide care for a wide range of ear-related conditions. Using the latest treatments and technologies, we’re committed to helping you regain comfort, function, and connection.
Ear and Hearing Conditions We Treat
Acute and Chronic Ear Conditions
Ear conditions can develop suddenly or progress gradually, affecting children and adults in different ways. You may notice pain, fluid drainage, pressure, or changes in hearing. Our specialists perform thorough evaluations to understand the cause of your symptoms and to help plan the right care for you.
Common acute and chronic ear conditions include:
- Otosclerosis
- Ear infections
- Cholesteatoma
- Ossicular discontinuity
- Exostoses (surfer’s ear)
- Eardrum perforation (hole in eardrum)
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Otitis externa (swimmer’s ear)
- Mastoiditis, acute and chronic
- Otitis media, acute and chronic
- Tumors of ear canal, middle ear and mastoid
Hearing Loss Conditions
Hearing loss can take different forms and may range from mild to severe and can occur in children and adults. You might notice muffled sounds, difficulty understanding speech, or changes in how you hear in noisy settings. Our ENT physicians and audiologists work together to evaluate these symptoms and determine the type and cause of hearing loss.
Common hearing loss conditions include:
- Hearing loss
- Sensorineural hearing loss
- Aural atresia
- Sudden hearing loss
- Congenital hearing loss
- Conductive hearing loss
- Autoimmune hearing loss
- Noise induced hearing loss
- Unilateral hearing loss (single sided deafness)
- Tinnitus
Lateral Skull Base Conditions
Problems in the lateral skull base can affect your hearing, balance, or even facial movement. You may notice dizziness, ringing in the ear, hearing loss, or weakness on one side of your face. Our specialists use advanced imaging and evaluations to understand these symptoms and identify the condition causing them.
Common lateral skull base conditions include:
- Bell’s palsy
- Csf otorrhea
- Glomus jugulare
- Traumatic facial nerve paralysis
- Cholesterol granuloma of petrous apex
- Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)
Balance, Dizziness, and Vertigo Conditions
Problems with balance can make you feel unsteady, lightheaded, or as if the room is spinning. These symptoms may stem from inner ear disorders, migraines, neurological conditions, or head injuries. Our specialists work with vestibular audiologists and balance therapists to evaluate your symptoms and identify the underlying cause.
Common balance, dizziness, and vertigo conditions include:
- Labyrinthitis
- Balance problems
- Ménière’s disease
- Vestibular neuritis
- Vestibular migraine
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
How We Treat Ear and Hearing Conditions at WMCHealth
At WMCHealth, you have access to a full spectrum of ear and hearing care. Our team uses advanced diagnostic tools and proven treatments to address both common concerns and complex conditions.
We treat:
- Acute and chronic ear conditions: Our ENT specialists offer both medical and surgical treatments tailored to your needs. Treatment may involve antibiotics, ear tube placement, or surgery to resolve your infection and repair the eardrum.
- Hearing loss conditions: ENT physicians and audiologists collaborate to evaluate your hearing and recommend a personalized treatment plan. Options may include hearing aids, cochlear implants, or bone conduction devices.
- Lateral skull base conditions: Your lateral skull base contains delicate structures, including the hearing and balance nerves, facial nerve, and blood vessels. Because of this complexity, our neurotologists collaborate closely with neurosurgeons, rhinologists, and radiation oncologists. Treatments may include microsurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, or minimally invasive skull base procedures.
- Balance, dizziness, and vertigo conditions: Our specialists partner with vestibular audiologists and balance therapists to understand your symptoms. Care may include vestibular rehabilitation, medication, or procedures to treat inner ear disorders.