Trust your Hearing to a Physician
Richmond ENT, in affiliation with our sister corporation Richmond Hearing Aids, provides medical evaluation and treatment for a variety of ear conditions.
Ear Aches
We frequently receive telephone requests for eardrops and antibiotics. Unfortunately, the cause of an earache cannot be diagnosed without a proper examination. Swimmer’s ear and otitis media are two of the most frequent illnesses seen by pediatricians. Earwax, foreign bodies, Eustachian tube dysfunction, viral infections and serious bacterial infections of the mastoid bone can also cause ear pain and discomfort. Pain can also be referred from the adjacent temporomandibular joint and from the throat. A painful ear is one of the most common reasons for an ear nose and throat consultation.
Ear Surgery
The otolaryngologist is the only surgeon trained to manage problems of the ears both inside and out. The most common surgical procedure performed on children in the United States is the placement of myringotomy tubes through the eardrum to treat otitis media. More complex procedures include reconstruction of the eardrum and the 3 tiniest bones in the human body: the malleus, incus, and stapes. Behind these lies the hardest bone in the human body, the temporal bone, which contains the cochlea and the nerve endings for sound and balance.
Hearing Evaluation
You may have hearing loss and not even be aware of it. People of all ages experience gradual hearing loss, often due to the natural aging process or long exposure to loud noise. Other causes of hearing loss include viruses or bacteria, heart conditions or stroke, head injuries, tumors, and certain medications. Treatment for hearing loss will depend on your diagnosis.
Causes of Hearing Loss
Prolonged loud noise can do more damage than you may think — it is a far more common cause of hearing loss than age. Noise causes hearing loss by damaging hair cells in the inner ear that convert the sounds you hear from sound energy into electrical signals that travel to the brain. Once damaged, the hair cells cannot grow back, causing permanent damage.
Hearing Aids
f you or someone you love struggles to hear, we can help. Richmond Hearing Aids is owned and operated by the board certified ear, nose and throat physicians at Richmond ENT. As specialists in diagnosing and treating hearing loss, we thoroughly understand the impact that hearing loss can have on the quality of your life. We are dedicated to evaluating and monitoring your hearing, as well as providing the technology to help you manage your hearing loss. Our goal is to be your leading hearing health care resource. We provide thorough hearing examinations and take time to educate you about available treatment options. We then maintain follow-up care to ensure your long-term comfort and satisfaction.
Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)
Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from tinnitus or head noises. It may be an intermittent sound or an annoying continuous sound in one or both ears. Its pitch can go from a low roar to a high squeal or whine. Prior to any treatment, it is important to undergo a thorough examination and evaluation by your otolaryngologist and audiologist. An essential part of the treatment will be your understanding of tinnitus and its causes.
Dizziness & Vertigo
Feeling unsteady or dizzy can be caused by many factors such as poor circulation, inner ear disease, medication usage, injury, infection, allergies, and/or neurological disease. Dizziness is treatable, but it is important for your doctor to help you determine the cause so that the correct treatment is implemented. While each person will be affected differently, symptoms that warrant a visit to the doctor include a high fever, severe headache, convulsions, ongoing vomiting, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, inability to move an arm or leg, a change in vision or speech, or hearing loss.