| Sinus Care |
| Pediatric Otolaryngology |
| Cancer Care |
| Thyroid / Parathyroid |
| Sleep Disorders |
| Hearing Services |
| Speech & Voice Care |
| Cosmetic Services |
Hearing Services @ ENT Clinic of Iowa |
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At ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C., no hearing issue – or patient -- is too small. From newborn hearing screenings to ear infections to hearing aid maintenance – the physicians and audiologists at ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. are dedicated to providing you and your family with exceptional care. The unique qualifications of our physicians and staff allow us to provide comprehensive care for the complete spectrum of hearing conditions, including: Recurrent ear infections, ear tubes, hearing loss, speech and language issues, cochlear implants, hearing aids, custom ear plugs, and much more. In addition, we’re proud to be home to the Des Moines area’s only pediatric otolaryngologist, Dr. Eytan Young. If you or your child is experiencing a hearing issue, contact ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. for a complete evaluation. Learn more about:
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Once you have lost your hearing, it’s gone. |
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Clinic of Iowa, P.C. for a complete evaluation:
- You frequently ask people to repeat what they’ve said
- You need the television or radio louder than others do
- You experience increased difficulty understanding conversation in the presence of background noise
- You hear better from one ear than the other
- You have to strain to hear
- You have ringing or buzzing in your ears
- Delayed speech and language development in children
We’ll conduct a complete medical and audiologic evaluation to determine whether there has been a hearing loss – as well as cause, degree, and type. We also have objective measures of hearing function for infants, children, and difficult-to-test populations -- including Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) and Otoacoustic Emission (OAE).
Hearing aid program
If you (or your child) are diagnosed with a hearing loss, our audiologists will discuss with you the benefits and limitations of various hearing aid styles and circuits to determine what will best fit your specific needs.
We service hearing aids from major manufacturers, including: Oticon, GN ReSound, and Phonak. Technology includes products such as: Widex, Siemens, and Starkey.
- We assist with selection and fitting of digital, programmable, and conventional hearing aids.
- BAHA Hearing System (ear implants) is available.
- All new hearing aids come with a 30-day trial.
- We offer assistive listening devices to enhance communication skills.
- All new hearing aids come with a two- to three-year repair warranty.
- Our audiologists will reprogram your hearing aids (all makes) for as long as you have them.
- We offer a money-saving battery plan.
Hearing aid Q&A
Q. I’ve been told that a hearing aid can’t help my hearing loss. Is this true?
A. Recent advancements in amplification technology have made it possible to assist individuals who could not have been helped a few years ago. ENT Clinic of Iowa offers an excellent selection of hearing aid technology and assistive listening devices for all types of hearing loss.
Q. How much do hearing aids cost?
A. Prices vary depending on the level of technology selected and can range from $1,400 to $2,400 for each device.
Q. Will hearing aids return my hearing to normal?
A. Hearing aids will allow you to hear better in most situations, but they can’t restore your hearing to normal. We’ll discuss realistic expectations of hearing aid use during the hearing aid evaluation.
Q. Why should I see an audiologist?
A. Audiologists are healthcare professionals specializing in the diagnosis and rehabilitation of hearing disorders. All audiologists hold a Masters or Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university. In Iowa, audiologists are licensed by the Department of Health to practice audiology and dispense hearing aids. Continuing education is required to maintain these credentials.
Q. What can I expect with a new hearing aid?
A. You’ll be trained on the use and care of your hearing aids at a fitting appointment. We’ll program them based on our prediction of how you’ll need them until they are “fine-tuned” at your two-week follow-up visit. We’ll fine-tune as needed -- and whenever you experience a change in hearing.
Q. Will my insurance pay for hearing aids?
A. ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. does not accept insurance reimbursement for hearing aid service.
Cochlear implants & BAHA® system
If you think your child could benefit from cochlear implants, you’ve come to the right place. ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C.’s Dr. Eytan Young leads an innovative cochlear implant program that focuses on issues of profound hearing loss -- providing full services including implantation.
About cochlear implants
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted device that helps overcome problems in the inner ear, or cochlea. The cochlea is a snail-shaped, curled tube located in the area of the ear where nerves are contained. Its function is to gather electrical signals from sound vibrations and transmit them to the auditory nerve. The auditory nerve then sends these signals to the brain, where they're translated into recognizable sounds.
If important parts of the cochlea aren’t working properly and the auditory nerve isn’t stimulated, electrical signals can’t reach the brain – which means hearing doesn’t occur. Cochlear implants use their own electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve, bypassing any damaged parts of the cochlea.
BAHA® system
People with conductive and mixed-loss hearing impairment have an exciting new option—the BAHA system, a unique and effective solution for specific types of hearing impairment.
The BAHA System combines a sound processor with a small titanium fixture implanted behind the ear. The system allows sound to be conducted through the bone rather than via the middle ear—a process known as direct bone conduction. Surgery is minor, and many patients report a wide range of advantages over other hearing devices.
BAHA sound processors can provide significant benefits for people with the following hearing impairments:
- Chronic inflammation or infection of the ear canal
- Single-sided deafness
- Incomplete ear canal as a result of a congenital ear malformation (Treacher Collins Syndrome)
Learn more about the BAHA system
Contact ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. today for more information about our cochlear implant or BAHA system programs.
Foreign bodies in the ear
It’s not unusual for young children to stick objects in their ears. Why? Curiosity is often the culprit.
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Cotton and tissue paper stuffed into the ear do not provide noise protection. |
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Most items become lodged in the ear canal – the small channel ending at the eardrum – and can be removed with minimal discomfort. Common objects found in ears include: Food, beads, toys, and insects. While earwax (cerumen) isn’t technically a foreign body, it does accumulate in the ear canal and can cause discomfort or decreased hearing.
The good news is that it’s usually easy to tell if you have something in your ear. The ear canal and eardrum are both highly sensitive. You also may notice the following:
- Pain
- Decreased hearing
- Nausea
- Bleeding
Occasionally, a foreign body in the ear will go undetected and can cause an infection in the ear. In this situation, you may notice ongoing infectious drainage from the ear.
If you or your child experiences a foreign body in the ear, contact ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. as soon as possible.
Perforation of the ear drum
A perforated – or ruptured – eardrum is sudden, painful, and can lead to lead to complications such as middle ear infections and hearing loss. In more serious cases, it may also require surgery to repair the damage to the eardrum.
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A stereo headset set at full blast, about 110 decibels, could damage ears in only a half hour. |
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A perforated eardrum is a tear in the thin membrane that separates your outer ear from your inner ear.
What causes a perforated eardrum?
Common causes of perforated eardrums include:
- Ear infection
- Poking the eardrum with a foreign object (such as a cotton swab)
- Barotrauma -- Occurs when the pressure inside the ear and the pressure outside the ear are not equal. (May occur when an airplane changes altitude and causes the air pressure in the cabin to drop or rise.)
- Head injury or an ear slap
- Sudden loud noise, such as an explosion or a sudden blast of loud music
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms of a perforated eardrum include:
- Air coming the ear when blowing the nose
- Sudden, sharp ear pain or a sudden decrease in ear pain
- Drainage from the ear that may be bloody, clear, or resemble pus
- Ear noise or buzzing
- Hearing loss that may be partial or complete in the affected ear
- Episodic ear infections
- Facial weakness or dizziness
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, or suspect you (or your child) may have suffered a perforated eardrum, contact ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. for a complete evaluation.
Custom ear plugs
Did you know that if you fall into any of the following categories, you’re at risk for hearing loss?
- Hunters (owners of firearms for competitive and recreational use)
- Musicians
- Auto racing, speed boating, and snowmobiling spectators/operators
Not only that, but once you’ve lost a portion of your hearing, you can’t regain it.
The good news is that you can still do the things you enjoy while protecting your hearing – with custom ear plugs from ENT Clinic of Iowa, P.C. Contact us today for more information.
Learn More about the BAHA Ear Implant
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