Hearing loss is an isolating experience for the individual suffering from it. The impairment can have detrimental cognitive, emotional and social side effects. Hearing impairment can profoundly impact how a child develops speech and language, as well as how they develop reading and writing skills.
At Keck Medicine of USC, patients with hearing loss are treated by a core team of three fellowship-trained neuro-otologists and nine audiologists who specialize in both adult and pediatric hearing impairment. In addition, our interdisciplinary team includes speech and language therapists, and an educational specialist to provide longitudinal care for our pediatric patients.
Our depth of experience in treating hearing loss helps us understand the nuances of listening with a supportive device. We are sensitive to the impact that hearing loss can have on the everyday life of our patients and their families. Clinical services are available through a network of locations in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, including the USC Caruso Family Center. Patients can receive multiple services, as necessary, in one clinic.
Properly treating hearing loss requires an accurate diagnosis and access to the latest technologies to restore sensitive hearing. The team at the USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery offers patients personalized assessments and treatment options using a range of novel technologies.
At Keck Medicine of USC, we use advanced diagnostics for hearing loss that include otoacoustic emission testing, comprehensive audiometry, behavioral audiometry, auditory brainstem response measurement and vestibular testing. These tests give us the ability to discern, with high resolution, the different structures of the inner ear that can give rise to hearing loss.
In addition, we use tools to monitor the ototoxicity of other treatments, including aminoglycoside antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Current research in our department involves a novel imaging technology to better detect an abnormal eighth nerve or central auditory pathway.
In addition, we use tools to monitor the ototoxicity of other treatments, including aminoglycoside antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Current research in our department involves a novel imaging technology to better detect an abnormal eighth nerve or central auditory pathway.
Once a diagnosis is made for the cause and extent of hearing loss, providers at the USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery can choose from a wide range of treatment options, including intratympanic injection of steroids for sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and surgical correction for conditions including chronic otitis media, otosclerosis and cholesteatoma.
In 2015, Keck Medicine of USC treated the largest volume of acoustic neuroma cases of any academic health system in the United States (data from Vizient). We are proud of the excellent hearing preservation results after acoustic neuroma surgery – up to 80 percent of our patients have their hearing preserved.
For patients who are candidates for an implantable device, we offer the latest technologies including bilateral or unilateral cochlear implantation, auditory brainstem implants and osseo-integrated hearing aids (aka “bone-anchored hearing aids”). Our team performs in-house programming and activation of implantable devices.
Investigators at the USC Caruso Family Center are participating in several clinical trials related to hearing loss, including the multi-center clinical trial sponsored by Advanced Bionics for hearing preservation, cochlear implantation and the extended Medicare coverage for cochlear implants clinical trial.
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