Medical Therapy:
Salt and caffeine avoidance are often helpful to restore
the normal fluid balance of the inner ear and prevent hearing
fluctuations. In some cases steroids and strong anti-inflammatory
medications can restore hearing.
Transtympanic Dexamethasone:
Inner-ear inflammation can sometimes be reversed with
steroids placed directly into the middle ear. From there the medication
diffuses across the round window membrane into the inner ear. Pittsburgh
Ear Associates has found dramatic results with this medical therapy for
certain types of nerve hearing loss. This is now an office procedure.
Hearing Loss:
Modern hearing aids provide amplified sound to the inner ear.
The use of computer technology and digital coding has significantly improved
difficulties with background noise.
Implantable Hearing Aids:
A new innovation is surgical placement of hearing aids
so that the patient wears nothing in the ear canal. These devices are
currently undergoing clinical trials. You may qualify for participation
in a trial.
Cochlear Implants:
These devices bypass a damaged inner ear in patients
without adequate benefit from hearing aids.
