An Audiologist Collaborates With Healthcare Professionals To Provide The Best Care For Balance And Hearing Disorders.
Aging might make us wiser, but it also increases the risk of developing troublesome conditions, such as dizziness and vertigo (a spinning or whirling sensation). About 35 percent of adults ages 40 and older experience some type of balance problem, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
At Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC), an experienced audiologist collaborates with physical therapists, geriatricians, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat physician) and local pediatricians to treat a variety of conditions in adults and children. They include dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), chronic ear infections and sudden-onset hearing loss.
A Team Approach
Dizziness and vertigo are marked by symptoms such as lightheadedness, involuntary eye movements and changes in vision. These symptoms can be traced to problems in the inner ear, which controls balance. If the brain receives conflicting messages from the inner ear and eyes, for instance, dizziness may result. There are many possible causes of vestibular problems, including infections of the inner ear, medications, head injuries, stroke and vascular disease.
At MMCSC, the Physical Therapy Department is located next to Audiology Services. Therapists treat vestibular conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which occurs when calcium crystals in the inner ear break free. It’s responsible for about half of all cases of dizziness in older people, making it the most common vestibular disorder. “Our physical therapists can perform a maneuver to move the crystals back into place and restore a person’s balance,” says Sue Ellen Boyer, AuD, an audiologist at MMCSC.
Physical therapists can also teach patients visual and head exercises to strengthen their vestibular system. This team approach to care benefits patients tremendously. Says Dr. Boyer: “We work closely to provide the most efficient and comprehensive care.”
You can learn more about Audiology Services at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, here.