What to Expect at Your Visit

Your audiologist may request you follow up with an ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat physician)/otolaryngologist. This may depend on the results of your hearing evaluation.

• Outer Ear Infections: Assessment for effects of this on otologic function with advice on cleaning and disinfecting hearing aids and other ear devices to prevent spreading infections
• Middle Ear Fluid: Assessment to assist in diagnosis of fluid in the middle ear which can muffle sound and cause temporary hearing loss
• Middle Ear Infection: Fluid that is infected in the middle ear, usually causing pain and muffled hearing, and requires medical treatment
• Sudden Hearing Loss: A significant decrease in or total loss of hearing ability that occurred abruptly, requiring prompt medical and audiologic evaluation
• Gradual or Sudden onset of Vertigo: Spinning sensation causing disorientation and possible nausea or vomiting, occurring once or in episodes, requiring prompt medical and audiologic evaluation; can accompany changes in hearing
• Tinnitus: Ringing or buzzing noise in the ear/s or head, intermittent or constant, and is most commonly associated with changes in hearing or other otologic conditions

Other reasons to schedule with otolaryngology include: ear pain and/or ear drainage, pressure buildup in the ears and/or head, chronic ear infections, chronic stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, or tonsillitis, lump/s in the neck and/or enlarged lymph nodes, difficulty breathing when sleeping/snoring (concerns for sleep apnea).