Hearing & Balance

Hearing loss is one of the three most common health problems in America. While most prevalent among adults over 60 years of age, hearing loss can affect anyone. At ColumbiaDoctors, we are committed to the improvement of hearing, balance, and communication for children and adults in the New York City area. Our highly trained audiologists are skilled in using the newest diagnostics and therapies.

If hearing loss is diagnosed, our patients have access to the newest treatments, including digital hearing aids, implantable devices, and assistive listening devices. When hearing loss is severe and cannot be helped by hearing aids, our cochlear implant audiologists and surgeons offer the latest technology in cochlear implants.

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

When hearing loss is gradual, it can go undetected for long periods of time. Regular hearing tests for adults take less than an hour and can provide a baseline that may be useful if hearing loss does occur. Detecting hearing loss early is important for many reasons. It can be an early indicator of other health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes; it can affect your balance; and it can interfere with your social interactions. Some of the symptoms that indicate an immediate need for a hearing test include:

• Speech sounds mumbled or slurred
• Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sound in ears)
• Problems hearing speech in a noisy area, such as a restaurant
• Need to turn television volume up high
• Dizziness

Take our hearing quiz to learn whether you would benefit from a hearing evaluation.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Balance Disorders

Most of us experience dizziness once in a while, but when that unsteady feeling lasts a long time or feels disorienting, it's considered a balance disorder. Symptoms may include the feeling of vertigo (intense spinning) or a sensation of moving or floating even when sitting or lying down. The dizziness may come along with other symptoms such as nausea, anxiety, hearing loss, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus). For many, dizziness significantly interferes with basic daily activities.

The causes of dizziness can include:

• Vestibular disorders, or problems in the inner ear
• Disorders in the central nervous system
• Cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure or anemia
• Bacterial or viral infection
• Reaction to medication
• Vision disturbances

At ColumbiaDoctors, our physicians use the most sophisticated diagnostics to determine the cause of your dizziness. Our team will work with you to find the best treatment and help you return to your normal activities.

Research and Clinical Trials

Our physicians are at the cutting edge of hearing related research, working to continually improve the way hearing loss is treated. If you are interested in participating in research, you can search for clinical trials led by physician/scientists in the Department of Otolaryngology on RecruitMe.

Convenient NYC Locations

Our audiologists see children and adults in three convenient locations: midtown Manhattan, northern Manhattan, and Riverdale.