Ear, Balance & Hearing
Otorhinolaryngologists (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctors) at UF Health offer advanced diagnostics, treatment and surgical interventions for hearing loss, recurring dizziness and balance issues.
Otolaryngology at UF Health Jacksonville by Dr. Nirmal Thapa
Conditions we treat
- Hearing loss
- Perforated eardrum
- Cholesteatoma
- Mastoiditis
- Tumors of the ear
- Ear infections
Treatments and surgeries performed
- Cochlear implant
- Bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA)
- Eardrum repair (tympanoplasty)
- Mastoidectomy
- Myringotomy and ear tube
- Balloon dilation of the eustachian tube
Audiology
The UF Health Jacksonville audiology team provides expert care for patients of all ages, helping them to hear clearly and maintain balance for a better quality of life.
Our audiologists are licensed health care professionals with specialized training in:
- Diagnosing and treating balance and auditory disorders
- Preventing and identifying hearing loss
- Recommending and managing hearing aids and assistive devices
Whether you're experiencing hearing changes, dizziness or need routine monitoring, we're here to provide compassionate, evidence-based care.
Ear, Hearing and Balance: Otology/Neurotology
Otology/Neurotology is a branch of the specialty Ear, Nose and Throat, or ENT, that further specializes in treating complicated ear conditions and diseases. Otology refers to conditions within the ear structure, while neurotology refers to conditions between the ear and brain.
All ENT (otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery) doctors can perform ear surgery. However, otologist/neurotologists perform additional one- or two- year fellowship training programs following their ENT residency training to allow them to treat the most difficult ear cases. At UF Health we have a highly trained otology/neurotology sub-specialist to treat your ear problems.
What to expect at your hearing evaluation
After listening to you describe your hearing issue, our otologist will perform a physical examination using an otoscope or a specialized microscope that can look at the ear under magnification.
After this close look, they may order an imaging study, such as a CT scan or MRI, or they may obtain a hearing test performed by our audiologist.
Conditions that can cause decreased hearing
There are several conditions that can reduce hearing, for example:
Infection
Although medical therapy, such as antibiotics, can usually treat infection, in some cases they are not effective.
If pus is trapped in the middle ear space, a small incision can be made in the ear drum, and the infection can be drained. This is called myringotomy and can be highly effective. If the infection progresses despite antibiotics, infection can develop in the bone surrounding the ear and a larger operation may be needed called mastoidectomy.
Perforation of eardrum
If an eardrum becomes perforated from infection or trauma it can reduce hearing capability. Our doctors can re-create a new ear drum and close the perforation with a surgery called tympanoplasty.
Ossicular fixation or discontinuity
Another cause of hearing loss can be if the hearing bones are no longer moving properly. Our otologist can perform surgery to restore the function of the hearing bones. The most common operation is called stapedectomy.
Cochlear Problems
The cochlea is our “hearing organ.” It transmits sound from the ear to the brain in complex signals.
If the cochlea is damaged by infection, or doesn’t develop properly, a patient might not be able to hear for the remainer of their life. Remarkably, through years of research and development, implant devices have been developed that our neurotologist can implant in surgery to restore functional hearing.
Tumors
Although rare, tumors can occur in the ear region. Examples of ear tumors are acoustic neuroma or glomus jugulare. Our neurotologist can remove the tumor and, in certain circumstances, preserve your hearing and balance function.