Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is one of the most common ear problems that causes patients to seek out an ENT. It can happen suddenly through trauma or gradually as the small hairs in your ear become damaged over time. To help ensure the most accurate diagnosis, the Summa Health ENT team – made up of physicians, audiologists and advanced practice providers – provides full medical and diagnostic evaluations, as well as counseling and education. 

Our team works with you to determine the best care option for those suffering hearing loss. Summa Health audiologists are doctoral-level providers are specifically trained to treat and manage hearing loss and tinnitus concerns. They work closely with major hearing aid manufacturers, allowing them to provide the most current and optimal hearing aid products on the market. 

Summa Health ENT also offers bone-anchored hearing systems, such as the BAHA™ cochlear implant – a surgical option which can provide a better outcome for certain types of hearing loss. Different from hearing aids, these specialty devices treat hearing loss through sound vibrations transmitted by bone conduction to the inner ear. Our ENT locations evaluate and treat patients who may benefit from BAHA. 

Ringing/Buzzing Sounds

Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is the perception of sound without an external source being present. It is especially common in older adults. To determine what underlying medical condition may be causing your tinnitus, you’ll likely undergo a series of hearing tests. Based on the results, solutions may include treating an underlying medical condition and/or providing a non-medical option, such as a masking device, to help reduce the unwanted noise.

Vertigo/Balance Disorders

A balance disorder is a condition marked by the symptoms of feeling unsteady or dizzy even while lying down or sitting still. The risk for balance disorders increases as people get older. Our ENT specialists can help solve, or greatly alleviate, your balance issues by treating you for such common disorders as Meniere's disease, benign positional vertigo and vestibular migraine.

Chronic Ear Infections

A chronic ear infection, which often features chronic draining ears as well as chronic ear pain, may be the result of an acute ear infection that does not clear completely or recurrent ear infections. While treatment depends upon the severity of the condition, some people may have ventilation tubes inserted in their eardrums. If the disease has progressed enough to cause damage to the eardrum or ear bones, more intensive treatment is usually needed.

Earwax Accumulation

Earwax is a helpful and natural part of your body's defenses. It cleans, lubricates and protects your ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria. Earwax blockage occurs when earwax accumulates in your ear or becomes too hard to wash away naturally. Your ear canal and eardrum can be damaged easily, so never try to remove earwax yourself. Wax removal is most safely performed by a specialist. 

The Summa Health ENT team strives to preserve or improve your hearing, balance and overall ear health to make life more enjoyable. Our providers prefer to exhaust all appropriate medical therapies before turning to surgery as a treatment option. Oral medication, ear drops and/or therapeutic exercises can help many ear disorders.