Otology

Otology Services & Specialties

• Acoustic Neuroma

  An acoustic neuroma, also called vestibular schwannoma, is a very rare, noncancerous tumor on the main nerve connecting your inner ear and brain. Signs and symptoms include:

  • Hearing loss on one side
  • Ringing (tinnitus) in the impacted ear
  • Dizziness or trouble balancing
  • Facial numbness

  These tumors are very slow growing &emdash; when they grow at all &emdash; but acoustic neuromas can impact your balance and hearing. Very rarely, the tumor may grow large quickly, pressing on the brain and impacting vital functions, including permanent hearing loss.

  Our otologists work one-on-one with you to develop the best treatment plan for your acoustic neuroma, including regular monitoring, radiation, and even surgery to remove the tumor. We provide a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach to your care, collaborating with UConn Health’s neurosurgery and radiation oncology specialists to give you the best care possible.

• Cholesteatoma

  Cholesteatomas are cysts or other abnormal skin growths occurring behind the eardrum. Frequently the result of untreated ear infections, the growth develops in the middle ear as layers of old skin shed and get stuck due to a vacuum pressure effect that traps air between the back of your nose and ear.

  Over time, the cholesteatoma can grow larger, impacting the tiny bones of the middle ear and reducing your hearing. Rarely, if left untreated, the hearing loss can become permanent, and also lead to dizziness and facial paralysis.

  Our Otologists will conduct a physical examination of your ear(s) to confirm the presence of a cholesteatoma, which may include hearing and balance tests and a CT scan to test the extent of damage. After that, they will work with you to find the proper treatment, which may consist of cleaning the ear, antibiotics, or ear drops. Therapy may also be recommended to help stop the drainage in your ear, controlling the infection. In the case of large or complicated cholesteatoma, surgery may be recommended to protect your hearing from serious complications.

• Cochlear Implant Mapping

  At UConn Health, the Otologists in our ENT department provide cochlear implants to help restore or improve the hearing of patients who are deaf or have severe hearing loss. After placing the device, they provide cochlear implant mapping to adjust it for your maximum hearing benefit, including any needed periodic adjustments as you become used to the device or your hearing needs change.

• Otology - Dizziness

  Dizziness is a common condition with many causes beyond inner ear disease, including:

  • Poor circulation
  • Prescription medications
  • Excess sodium
  • Emotional stress, anxiety, and tension
  • Vertigo, the sensation of the world rotating wildly around you, usually associated with nausea and vomiting.
  • Benign positional vertigo, vertigo symptoms caused by ear crystals shifting after a change in head position such as lying down, turning in bed, looking up, or stooping. Neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, etc.
  • Meniere's disease
  • Migraines
  • Viruses or infections
  • Injuries
  • Allergies

  While dizziness has many causes, you should see us quickly in the case of dizziness occurring along with high fever, severe headache, convulsions, persistent vomiting, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, inability to move an arm or leg, a change in vision or speech, or hearing loss. These may be signs of a more serious concern.

  At your appointment, your Otologist will ask about your general health history, as well as your dizziness symptoms and when they occur. In addition to physically examining your ears, nose, and throat, some routine tests may be performed to check your blood pressure, nerve and balance function, and hearing. In some instances, your care team may also recommend a CT or MRI scan of your head, eye motion and ear stimulation tests, blood tests, cardiology evaluation, and balance testing, depending on the severity of the dizziness. Your doctor will work directly with you to determine the best course of action based on your individual symptoms. Treatments may include medications and balance exercises.

• Otology - Inner/Middle Ear Problems

  Ear infections (acute otitis media) are painful swelling and inflammation of the middle ear, often caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Impacting both children and adults, the infection often results from another illness, such as a cold, flu, or allergies.

  While symptoms of ear infections usually improve within the first couple of days, and most infections clear up on their own within one to two weeks without treatment, our ENT specialists can advise you on treatments to lessen your pain, including medications and antibiotics, when necessary.

  For children with recurrent otitis media (three infections in six months, or four in a year with one occurring in the previous six months) or otitis media with effusion (fluid buildup in the ear after an infection has cleared up), our Otologists may recommend draining fluid from the middle ear.

• Meniere’s Disease

  Meniere’s disease affects the inner ear causing symptoms such as, vertigo, hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and a feeling of pressure in the ear. While the cause is unknown, it may result from an abnormal amount of fluid in the inner ear from excess production or inadequate absorption. In some individuals, especially those with both ears affected, allergies and autoimmune disorders may be the cause. Other factors, such as fatigue and stress, can also influence the frequency of attacks.After months or years of the disease, hearing loss can become permanent.

  Meniere’s disease typically starts between the ages of 20 and 50, and men and women are equally afflicted. Because Meniere’s disease affects each person differently, your doctor will help reduce your symptoms and work with you to identify the best treatment option. Although there is no cure for Meniere’s disease, the attacks of vertigo can be controlled in nearly all cases. Treatment may include:

  • A low-salt diet and a diuretic (water pill)
  • Anti-vertigo medications
  • Injections
  • An air pressure pulse generator
  • Surgery

  In severe cases, your doctor may recommend one of the following surgical procedures:

  • Endolymphatic sac shunt: a decompression procedure to relieve attacks of vertigo in one-half to two-thirds of cases.
  • Selective vestibular neurectomy: a procedure where the balance nerve is severed at the point it leaves the inner ear and goes to the brain.
  • Labyrinthectomy and eighth nerve section: the balance and hearing mechanism is removed from the inner ear of the impacted ear.