What does a neurotologist do?
A neurotologist focuses their practice on treating conditions of the ear, facial nerve and skull base. The take care of advanced conditions related to hearing, balance and facial nerve function.
Will a cochlear implant restore normal hearing?
Although cochlear implant technology is rapidly advancing, the device does not restore someone with severe-to-profound hearing loss to normal hearing.
Performance with the device varies from person to person. Properly selected patients will do much better with a Cl than with a hearing aid. Patients who work hard to listen with their Cl will continue to improve many ears after device switch on.
Do children outgrow the internal device requiring an additional surgery after their bodies grow?
The inner ear (cochlea) is full size at birth and the skull is nearly completed growth by ages7-9 years. The internal device is designed to adapt as people grow and rarely needs to be replaced. The external component of the Cl device will be replaced as new advances reach the market.
What is an osseointegrated hearing device?
An 01 is a titanium fixture placed in the skull behind the ear with a minor surgery, which then fills with growing bone. At roughly four to six weeks, our audiologist will connect an external device which will by-pass the middle ear to correct a conductive hearing loss on the same side or will transmit a signal to the opposite side if the same side is deaf. We offer Baha and Ponto at Puget Sound ENT.
Call Puget Sound ENT for more information or to schedule an appointment.