Ear
The ear is a very sophisticated organ. It not only provides us with the ability to hear but it is also integrally involved in our balance system. Hearing loss and dizziness affect millions of lives every year, significantly impacting their quality of life. With specialized training in otology and neuro-otology, our physicians treat a wide array of diseases affecting the ear.
Diagnostic, Treatment, Surgical and Rehabilitative Services Provided:
- Adult and Pediatric Ear Disorders
- Vertigo & Balance Disorders
- Ear Infections
- Ear Tubes
- Hearing Loss
- Implantable Hearing Devices
- Hearing Aids
- Tinnitus/Ringing in the Ears
- Tumors and Skin Cysts
- Middle Ear Problems and Prosthesis
- Perforated Ear Drums
- Otosclerosis and Laser Stapedotomy
- Sudden Sensorineural Hearing loss
Hearing
We offer advanced diagnostic testing and treatment for all types of hearing loss including sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, sudden hearing loss and unilateral hearing loss.
Imbalance, dizziness and vertigo can be very complex problems. That’s why we here at Florida Gulf Coast ENT understand the importance of a complete, thorough medical evaluation and in-depth diagnostic testing for your dizziness issues. Let our team of highly trained professionals be a resource for you. Don’t let your life be diminished by dizziness, poor balance or hearing loss.
Patients with hearing loss can count on our highly skilled audiology staff to provide comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for hearing as well as rehabilitative technology and services that are unmatched by other area providers.
We have one of the largest selection of hearing aids available for people with hearing loss. We offer a variety of state-of-the-art and cosmetically appealing hearing aids. Our hearing rehabilitation specialists will help you select the type of hearing device that is right for you. We have hearing aids to fit every budget and lifestyle. Financing and special programs are available. We also provide digital programming, repairs, maintenance and accessories onsite.
Balance & Dizziness
Our specialists perform an advanced comprehensive evaluation, and spend extra time educating patients on the specific nature of their complaints. Our patients leave the office with a complete understanding of their underlying problem. The patients are comfortable with the treatment options utilized to manage these distressing symptoms. Florida Gulf Coast ENT our patient’s problems and the treatment options are analyzed in a comprehensive manner, and delivered by caring and knowledgeable physicians and professionals.
- Vertigo
- Meniere’s
- Dizziness
- Inner Ear Infections/Labyrinthitis
- Vestibular Disorders
Hearing Protection
Your hearing should be protected, once lost, it cannot be regained. One way that noise can permanently damage your hearing is by a single brief exposure to a high noise level, such as a firecracker going off near your ear. But hearing damage can also occur gradually at much lower levels of noise, if there is enough exposure over time. To protect your hearing, you’ll want to limit your exposure to these moderately high noise levels and give your ears a chance to recover after any period of noise exposure.
Hearing Aids & Assistive Listening Devices
A wide variety of hearing aid options are available to you. Our highly trained and knowledgeable staff of hearing professionals can help you determine which model might be right for you. Click on the various models to read more about the advantages, disadvantage,s and suitability of each model. Various types of assistive listening devices are also available to help you in specific situations which hearing loss is particularly challenging.
You can also discuss surgery to correct hearing loss.
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Behind-The-Ear (BTE)
This type of aid consists of the device itself which sits behind the ear, a custom ear mold which sits inside the ear, and a small clear flexible tube that connects the aid to the earmold. Some of the pros and cons are as follows:
Advantages
This style can be fit to the widest range of hearing losses.
1. It can come with a larger number of features than other styles.
2. It has larger batteries and controls, making it easier to use for someone with vision or dexterity problems.
3. It has the lowest chance of causing acoustic feedback or “whistling”.
4. It has relatively low visibility, depending on the hairstyle worn.
5. It is larger and harder to misplace.Disadvantages
1. Requires a little more maintenance than other hearing aid styles because the tubing needs periodic changing (approximately every six months or so) and a new mold.
2. May be more difficult to put on if manual dexterity is limited.
3. May be more visible if the ears are small or hair is very short.
4. Requires slightly different positioning of the telephone receiver.Most Suitable For People Who
1. Have severe-to-profound hearing loss or a steeply sloping audiometric hearing loss pattern.
2. Have widely fluctuating hearing levels.
3. Need the additional features.
4. Prefer this aid’s style/appearance to other styles. -
In-The-Ear (ITE)
This type of hearing aid is worn within the outer ear. There are no separate attachments or other parts behind the ear. Some pros and cons of this style are:
Advantages
1. No tubes/earmolds to periodically replace.
2. Relatively long battery life.
3. Can be used with a wide range of hearing losses.
4. Can be made with more features than smaller styles.
5. The telephone receiver can be held in the usual manner.
6. Lowest cost of all in the ear hearing aid styles.
7. Easier to place in the ear and change the battery than other smaller styles.Disadvantage
1. More visible than other ITE styles.
Most Suitable For People Who
1. Have up to a moderate to severe hearing loss.
2. Prefer a lower profile or less visible hearing aid.
3. Need the additional features. -
In-The-Canal (ITC)
An ITC hearing aid is about one-half the size of an in the ear hearing aid. It can be used for mild to moderate hearing losses.
Advantages
1. Less visible than the in the ear hearing aid style.
2. Still has a number of available features.Disadvantages
1. It has a slightly shorter battery life than the behind the ear hearing aid styles and in the ear styles.
2. It may be more expensive than the in the ear style .Most Suitable For People Who
1. Desire a smaller and more discreet instrument than the ITE style.
2. Have a mild-to-moderate hearing loss. -
Completely-In-The-Canal (CIC)
The CIC aid fits completely within the ear canal and is the least visible of all the hearing aid styles.
Advantages
1. It fits a wide range of hearing losses.
2. It is virtually invisible and therefore the most cosmetically appealing instrument.
3. It is the best choice in hearing aids for telephone use because it has the least chance of feedback.
4. The microphone is located in a more natural sound-gathering position (at or slightly inside the ear canal opening) which allows the outer ear to provide more high-frequency emphasis and enhanced localization.
5. It requires less overall power because of the close proximity of the receiver to the eardrum.Disadvantages
1. It has a somewhat shorter battery life (5-7 days).
2. The smaller battery size may make battery changes difficult if manual dexterity is limited.
3. Ear wax within the hearing aid can frequently plug the receiver.
4. It may cost more than other styles.
5. Patients may experience more occlusion, a sensation of “talking in a barrel”, or hearing their own voice as unusually loud.Most Suitable For People Who
1. Desire a smaller and more discreet instrument .
2. Use the telephone often and need amplification for telephone conversation.
3. Want to maximize the outer ear’s sound gathering and localization.Open
Open hearing aids are worn behind the ear and have a small, clear tube that goes into the ear canal.
Advantages:
1. It works with the natural shape of the ear to amplify sound.
2. Because it does not plug up the ear canal, it sounds more natural.
3. It is less conspicuous than most other styles and more comfortable.
4. Patients can use the telephone without any problems.
5. Does not require the use of a custom ear mold.Disadvantages
1. It may cost more than other styles
Most Suitable For People Who
1. Have a high frequency hearing loss.
2. Desire a smaller and more discreet instrument.
3. Use the telephone often and need amplification for telephone conversation.
4. Are bothered by the occlusion effect
Nose
The doctors and staff at Florida Gulf Coast Ear, Nose and Throat strive to provide the highest level of care in diagnosing, treating and managing a wide range of nasal and sinus diseases.
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At Florida Gulf Coast Ear, Nose and Throat, we offer a broad spectrum of services including diagnosis, treatment & education for the care of adult and pediatric allergies.
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Throat
Problems of the throat are quite common. The staff of Florida Gulf Coast Ear, Nose and Throat is highly skilled and experienced.
We have treated thousands of patients suffering from a variety of acute and chronic throat or pharyngeal illnesses and disorders.
DIAGNOSTIC, TREATMENT AND SURGICAL SERVICES PROVIDED:
- Tonsils & Adenoids
- Chronic Sore Throats
- Strep Throat
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease – GERD
- Laryngitis
- Swallowing Disorders
- Voice Disorders including Botox for Spasmodic Dysphonia
- Vocal Cord Disorders
- Vocal Cord Polyps and Nodules
- Snoring & Sleep Apnea
- Celon