Patient Path to Better Hearing
Hearing is currently the only sense that we can completely restore. We're proud to be able to offer our patients everything available to help restore their communication with family and friends.
Penn Audiology is leading the way for the treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus, offering comprehensive treatment through the Penn Hearing Aid Program and Penn's Center for Implantable Hearing Devices. Audiologic conditions may sometimes be treated medically or surgically. The audiology team works closely with Otology and Neurotology to have patients seamlessly treated when indicated.
Surgical Treatment for Audiologic Conditions
In some cases surgery is necessary to repair certain balance and hearing loss conditions. These conditions include:
Otosclerosis: an inherited disorder resulting in abnormal bone growth in the middle ear that causes hearing loss. It can be treated surgically with the replacement of the immobile bone in the middle ear. This treatment removes the fixed stapes bone in the middle ear and replaces it with a prosthetic piece.
Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SSCD):an opening in the bone that overlies the superior semicircular canal of the inner ear and can cause vertigo and balance issues. Superior canal dehiscence repair involves the plugging or resurfacing of the opening in the bone from an area of the inner ear called the middle cranial fossa.
Menieres disease or vestibular dysfunction: in some cases, treating Menieres disease or other vestibular dysfunction may involve a labyrinthectomy. A labyrinthectomy involves the surgical removal of all of the inner ear, removing both the balance and hearing function from the affected ear. This is performed for those with cases of total or near total hearing loss.
Treatment for Hearing Loss
Hearing Aids
The Penn Hearing Aid Program works with a broad range of major hearing aid manufacturers to provide you or your loved one with a hearing aid that meets your lifestyle, cosmetic and budgetary needs while providing the functionality you expect. A comprehensive hearing aid assessment is provided to each patient by a dedicated amplification audiologist who will help guide you through the selection process.
Implantable Hearing Devices
The Penn Implantable Hearing Device Program offers patients suffering from hearing loss with state-of-the-art bone-anchored hearing systems (Baha) and cochlear implant devices. Penn is the only regional provider of all three cochlear implant manufacturers, allowing the skilled surgeons and implant audiologists to recommend the device that is best for each patient's unique communication needs.