About Michigan Ear Institute
Michigan Ear Institute specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous conditions affecting the ear and related structures. Continuous research involving many aspects of otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery are ongoing at the Institute.
MEI Hearing Aid Center
The Michigan Ear Institute’s audiology staff possesses an outstanding clinical resume as well as having much experience in research. Areas of expertise include audiometric testing, auditory brainstem evoked response testing, advanced vestibular testing including electronystagmography, rotary chair testing and posturography testing. In addition various clinical electrophysiologic tests are done on site including electrocochleography to help test for Meniere’s disease and electroneuronography to aid in the diagnosis of facial nerve weakness. Recently, the addition of the OMNIAX has improved diagnosis and treatment of many patients suffering from dizziness.
Dizziness and Balance
The Dizziness, Balance, and Falls Center at the Michigan Ear Institute has been recognized internationally as an outstanding clinical program for the diagnosis and treatment of balance disorders. After diagnosing the balance problem various treatment modalities including medical, surgical, and vestibular rehabilitation can improve overall balance function. Common balance disorders which we see include Meniere’s disease, benign positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, post traumatic dizziness, among other processes.
Facial Nerve Disorders
Michigan Ear Institute has been at the forefront in developing treatment modalities for facial nerve dysfunction including Bell’s palsy and traumatic facial nerve paralysis. The various treatment programs including medications, surgery, and reanimation procedures have been used to improve overall facial function. State of the art diagnostic testing has been able to predict the outcome of a patients with facial nerve weakness. Electrical stimulation may be used as well in order to assist our patients during their recovery.
Acoustic Tumor Surgery
Tumors of the hearing and balance nerves arising between the inner ear and brainstem have been extensively studied at the Michigan Ear Institute. Modern diagnostic testing including auditory brainstem evoked response testing and MRI testing are currently in use. Surgical removal of these tumors has resulted in excellent quality of life with minimal side effects. Intra-operative facial nerve monitoring has markedly lessened the incidence of facial nerve weakness generally associated with these tumors.
Neurotologic Skull Base Surgery
Tumors arising at the base of skull including glomus jugulare tumors, meningiomas and various neuromas of the cranial nerves are now being successfully treated by a combined neurosurgical and neurotologic approach. With the use of sophisticated monitoring techniques during surgery, the ability to spare nerves associated with these tumors has been markedly increased. Pioneering work using endoscopic techniques have assisted in removal of tumors with less patient morbidity.
Pediatric Otology
Pediatric ear problems including recurrent ear infections, congenital, and anatomical deformities of the ear, dizziness, and progressive hearing losses are some of the many childhood otologic disorders that are treated at the Michigan Ear Institute.
Otosclerosis and Stapes Surgery
Otosclerosis is a disease of the middle ear bones and sometimes the inner ear. Otosclerosis is a common cause of hearing impairment and is rarely hereditary.
Chronic Ear Infections & Surgical Treatment
The diagnosis of chronic otitis media (long standing infections of the middle ear) has been determined as the cause of your ear problem. The reason that you have come to Michigan Ear Institute may be due to several factors from the diagnosis of chronic ear infection. This may cause drainage from your ear, hearing impairment, tinnitus (head noise), dizziness, ear pain, or facial weakness. The symptoms that you may be having depend on the extent of the disease and where the disease is located.