FAQs

Spotlight: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Got vertigo?  Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (or BPPV) is one of the most common causes of the disorienting sensation of spinning or whirling.   It is caused by a disorder of the balance center of the inner ear; specifically the displacement of the calcium carbonate crystals that are normally found there.  These crystals play an important…

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What is Neurotology?

Neurotology is the study and practice of medical and surgical disorders that involve the ear, adjacent brain, and the nerve connections within this region (known as the lateral skull base). In addition to all disorders of hearing and balance, Neurotologists also treat disorders of the facial nerve, tumors of the inner ear and skull base,…

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What is Otology?

Otology is the study and practice of medical and surgical disorders of the ear. These include disorders related to hearing and balance. Some common problems treated by Neurotologists include infections of the ear canal and middle ear (including cholesteatoma and chronic otitis media), eardrum perforations, hearing loss (including conductive, mixed, and sensorineural types), vertigo, and…

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Spotlight: Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

What is sudden sensorineural hearing loss? Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a term used to describe hearing loss that develops over a very short period of time. Sensorineural hearing loss generally implies damage to the structures of the inner ear or hearing nerve. While there are many possible causes of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, in…

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Spotlight: Otosclerosis

What is otosclerosis? Otosclerosis is a bone disorder that affects the ear. It is the most common cause of conductive hearing loss in adults. How does otosclerosis cause hearing loss? Otosclerosis causes stiffening of the stirrup bone (stapes) so that it does not move properly. In some circumstances, otosclerosis may cause damage to the inner…

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