Hearing Problems
Treating Hearing Loss & Hearing Problems.
As ear, nose and throat specialists, the board-certified otolaryngologists and audiologists at
Dalton ENT in Dalton, Georgia and
Northwest Georgia Hearing Center in Calhoun, Georgia treat a wide variety of hearing problems. The most common include hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo.
Hearing loss.
Hearing loss is common among older Americans. Although hearing loss is almost inevitable with aging, hearing amplification is highly effective in returning patients to the world of the hearing. Newer technology eliminates or reduces many of the problems with older-type hearing aids, allowing the rehabilitation of patients who may not have been adequately helped in the past.
Of course, not all hearing loss is related to aging. Our years of experience recognizing different types of sensorineural hearing loss are most helpful. And should a patient need a hearing aid, one of our staff audiologists will help them find the hearing aid that’s precisely right for their individual needs, budget and lifestyle.
Tinnitus.
Tinnitus can sound like a high-pitched whistling or buzzing, ringing or hissing. It can also be a more complex sound, like the roar of an ocean. Some people can clearly hear the sound of their tinnitus and are able to live with it quite happily. In others, the sound is terribly annoying and can often drive them to distraction. The sound can be in one or both ears or perceived elsewhere in the head. It is equally common in men and women and can be associated with almost any disorder of the ear.
We have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating tinnitus and understand the association of tinnitus with hearing loss. Our audiologists conduct careful examinations and perform a number of tests, which include hearing tests, balance tests and blood tests. Treatment can include medications, hearing aids, biofeedback training and tinnitus maskers.
Vertigo.
Vertigo, or inner ear balance disturbance, is often confused with dizziness, fainting, light-headedness or swaying. The difference between these symptoms and vertigo is sometimes hard to detect, and although some forms of vertigo are difficult to manage, in most cases treatment is possible. We are experts in identifying true vertigo from other forms of dizziness and in treating it through both surgical and nonsurgical means, with surgery always used as a last resort after other treatment options have failed.
Other hearing problems include ear pain, perforations and drainage. Surgical care for ear disease includes mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty, when necessary. For more information on hearing problems, call us at 706-279-3277 or to request an appointment use our Interactive Online Appointment Request Form.