Ear Disorders, Treatment &
hearing
Ear | Hearing
At Pinehurst Surgical, our otolaryngologists in Pinehurst, Raeford, Rockingham, Sanford and Troy are trained to treat the following:
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Diseases of the ear
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Ear infections
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Hearing and balance disorders
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Ear noise (tinnitus)
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Nerve disorders
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Ear cancer
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Traumatic injuries
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Management of outer and inner ear congenital disorders
We offer only the very best medical and surgical care for a variety of problems related to ear and hearing problems.
How Does the Ear Work?
The outer ear collects sounds. The middle ear is a pea-sized, air-filled cavity separated from the outer ear by the paper-thin eardrum. Inside the middle ear are three tiny ear bones. When sound waves strike the eardrum, it vibrates and sets the bones in motion that transmit to the inner ear. The inner ear converts vibrations to electrical signals and sends these signals to the brain. A healthy middle ear has the same atmospheric pressure as air outside of the ear, allowing free vibration. Air enters the middle ear through the narrow eustachian tube that connects the back of the nose to the ear.
Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is a form of hearing impairment due to a lesion in the external auditory canal or middle ear. This form of hearing loss is usually temporary and found in those ages 40 or younger. Untreated chronic ear infections can lead to conductive hearing loss; draining the infected middle ear drum will usually return hearing to normal.
The other form of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss, hearing loss due to a lesion of the auditory division of the 8th cranial nerve or the inner ear. Historically, this condition is most prevalent in middle age and older patients; however, extended exposure to loud music can lead to sensorineural hearing loss in adolescents.
When Should a Hearing Test be Performed?
A hearing test should be performed for children who have frequent ear infections, hearing loss that lasts more than six weeks, or fluid in the middle ear for more than three months. There are a wide range of medical devices now available to test a child's hearing, Eustachian tube function, and reliability of the ear drum. They include the otoscopy, tympanometer, and audiometer.
If you believe you may be experiencing some level of hearing loss, please contact us at 910-295-0243 or visit your My Patient Page to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled audiologists. Depending on your diagnosis, your hearing specialist may refer you to one of our Pinehurst, NC ear doctors for surgery to correct conductive hearing loss or hearing loss due to injury or trauma.
To learn more about our services related to hearing loss, including balance assessments, hearing aid fittings and more, please visit our Audiology Center page.
Downloadable Patient Education (PDF)
Chronic Ear Infections in Children
Otitis Media
Ruptured Eardrum
Sinusitis
Sudden Hearing Loss
Tinnitus
Cochlear Implant
Ear Tube Surgery
Hearing Aids
Conditions | American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
Middle Ear Infection (Chronic Otitis Media) and Hearing Loss
Hyperacusis: An Increased Sensitivity to Everyday Sounds
What You Should Know About Otosclerosis
Ear Infection and Hearing Loss
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Q&A with Dr. Barry Hirsch
If you are ready to schedule an appointment at one of our Ear, Nose, Throat, Head & Neck Centers, please contact us today at (910) 235-4034 and ask to speak with an ENT specialist. Current patients of Pinehurst Surgical may also request an appointment with one of our Pinehurst, NC otolaryngologists using their online Patient Portal Page.
Pinehurst Surgical is a multi-specialty clinic comprised of ten specialty centers located in a state-of-the-art surgical facility in Pinehurst, NC. Our ENT physicians provide allergy care and treatments at our Pinehurst, Raeford, Rockingham, Sanford and Troy clinical offices, serving patients in Southern Pines, Fayetteville, Red Springs, Asheboro and all surrounding areas throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond.