SPECIALIST CONSULTATIONS
A Multidisciplinary team of Otolayrngologists, Audiologists, and Hearing Care Specialists evaluate and assess complex disorders of the ear. When referred to our team, ear disorders are managed with appropriate medical intervention.
COMMON EAR DISORDERS
Ear Infections
There are many different types of ear infections, and some of the more common ones are known as Acute Otitis Media (AOM), Otitis Media (OM) with Effusion, and Otitis Externa (OE).
Otits Media
Acute Otitis Media (AOM) often occurs relatively suddenly with signs or evidence of fluid behind the eardrum. These infections commonly improve on their own or with the use of antibiotics.
Otitis Media (Chronic) with Effusion
Chronic Otitis Media often occurs over several weeks or months with signs or evidence of fluid behind the eardrum. Common treatment procedures include ventilation, pressure equalization, or tympanostomy tubes which are cylindrical tubes that are surgically inserted into the eardrum.
Otitis Externa
Tympanic Membrane Perforation
A perforation of the eardrum (or tympanic membrane) can occur due to physical trauma (such as with a Q-Tip or cotton bud) or an infection of the ear. Some perforations can heal on their own, but if they do not, a common surgical procedure known as a tympanoplasty is usually performed.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD)
The Eustachian Tube is an opening or tube that connects the middle ear with the nasal-sinus cavity. This tube helps equalize pressure in the middle ear and allows for drainage of fluid in the middle ear. Dysfunction of the Eustachian Tube can cause symptoms of pressure and / or hearing loss. Conservative treatments include nasal sprays, however, if symptoms persist and become chronic, a procedure known as a Eustachian Tuboplasty can be performed.
Cholesteatoma
A cholesteatoma is a cyst that invades the middle ear and sometimes the mastoid. There is an increased risk of cholesteatomas with
chronic Eustachian Tube Dysfunction due to retractions of the tympanic membrane. If cholesteatomas are left untreated
for too long, a surgical procedure known as a mastoidectomy may need to be performed.
Otosclerosis
Otosclerosis is a condition of abnormal hardening or stiffening of one or more ossicles in the middle ear which can cause Conductive hearing losses. There are three ossicles located in the middle ear known as the malleus, incus, and stapes. The most common surgical intervention is known as a stapedotomy.
Ménière’s Disease
Meniere’s Disease is a disorder of the inner ear and is also known as hydro/endolymphatic hydrops. There is increased hydraulic pressure within the inner ear (known as the cochlea) that can cause hearing loss, imbalance, and dizziness. Treatment and management of symptoms are the most common forms of intervention.
Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence (SSCD)
Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence is an abnormal thinning or incomplete closure of the bony canals of the inner ear. Most common symptoms are hearing loss, imbalance, and dizziness.
Acoustic Neuroma / Vestibular Schwannoma
An acoustic neuroma is a non-cancerous and usually slow growing tumour that develops on the vestibulocochlear nerve, and is monitored with routine MRIs of the Internal Auditory Canal. Common treatment procedures include excision or Gamma knife radiation. The most common symptoms are hearing loss, imbalance, and dizziness.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL)
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss is an idiopathic or unexplained sudden loss of hearing. It is important to seek medical intervention as soon as possible to improve chances of reversing the hearing loss. Common treatments include oral steroids and intratympanic steroid injections. Intratympanic injections provide the best chance for for recovery if they are received within 14 days of the onset of symptoms.
COMMON OPERATIVE PROCEDURES
Eardrum Surgery
Common eardrum complications include perforations (holes in the eardrum) or eardrum retractions due to middle ear dysfunction. A tympanoplasty is the most common procedure to repair the eardrum (tympanic membrane). A cartilage, fat, or fascia graft is often used to during the tympanoplasty procedure.
Pressure Equalization, Tympanostomy, Ventilation Tubes
Plastic or metal tubes are surgically inserted into the eardrum to ventilate the middle ear. This helps prevent the accumulation of fluid or pressure in the middle ear space. This procedure is often used as a treatment for ear infections of the middle ear, most commonly known as Otitis Media.
Middle Ear Surgery
Many complications can occur in the middle ear which may require corrective or preventative surgery. These procedures can include Ossicular Chain Reconstruction (OCR) surgery, cholesteatoma surgery, and mastoid surgery.
- Ossicular Chain Reconstruction can improve conductive hearing losses by replacing or repairing the damaged malleus or incus bones of the middle ear.
- A Mastoidectomy is removes diseased cells from the air-filled spaces in the mastoid bone. The mastoid is a part of your skull located behind your ear. This is a common procedure used to treat cholesteatomas, or ear infections, that have spread into the mastoid.
Laser Stapedotomy
The three smallest bones in the human body are the malleus, incus, and stapes which are located in the middle ear. Sometimes one or more of these bones can become stiff or fused, causing a conductive hearing loss. A laser stapedotomy is performed to improve hearing by correcting this fixation or fusion.
Eustachian Tuboplasty
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction often precedes and results in middle ear disorders. The Eustachian Tube is an opening that connects the middle ear to the nasal-sinus cavity allowing for drainage of fluids and pressure equalization. A dilation procedure can be performed to improve the function of the Eustachian Tube.
Canalplasty
A Canalplasty is often performed for patients with very narrow or non-existent ear canals. Excess cerumen blocking the canal is more common with narrow ear canals which can result in reduced hearing and infections. A Canalplasty can also be performed for patients with Exostoses, which are benign bony growths in the ear canal that may require excision or removal due to pain and/or hearing loss.
“Excellent Doctor and staff. Very kind, caring and
knowledgeable doctor and staff. Dr.Ho is an Outstanding
surgeon too. Very thankful I got in for my surgery when I did.
You all are a blessing and I’m so thankful for you all.”
Google Reviews
“Just over month ago I experienced a sudden loss of hearing
in one of my ears (Complete hearing loss), and as soon as I
was referred to Dr Ho, I had an appointment and treatment
was initiated. The staff and Dr Ho have been very helpful,
encouraging, and compassionate throughout this process…”
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