Hearing Disorders

Treatment

Mayo Clinic offers patients who have hearing disorders state-of-the-art treatments: medications, surgery and hearing aids or other assistive devices. Mayo specialists also provide counseling or ear protection to help prevent further hearing loss. Treatments depend on the patient's problem. Following is an overview of treatment options, based on problems presented, from most common to least common.

Presbycusis (hearing loss)
Presbycusis, the most common cause of hearing loss, results from the effects of aging on the inner ear. This is not medically or surgically treatable. Mayo's audiologists can educate and fit patients with hearing aids and other assistive devices as well as provide strategies for improving hearing in common situations.

Chronic otitis media
Chronic otitis media is a condition of the middle ear that can cause temporary hearing loss and eardrum perforations. Most active infections with perforations can be treated with antibiotics. If not, surgery may be necessary.

Mastoiditis
Mastoiditis is an infection that affects the mastoid bone, behind the ear, the mastoid. Antibiotics are used to treat acute mastoiditis. If the symptoms do not improve, surgery may be recommended.

Otosclerosis
Otosclerosis can cause hearing loss for adults. Bones grow abnormally in the middle ear, usually around the footplate of the stapes, preventing structures within the ear from working properly. Patients with this hearing disorder may benefit from surgery or a hearing aid.

Acoustic Neuroma
An acoustic neuroma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor that stems from the eighth cranial nerve. Removing or reducing the tumor with microsurgery or stereotactic radiation therapy (radiosurgery) is the usual treatment. See treatment of acoustic neuroma.

Balance disorders
Dizziness and balance problems are caused by a problem of the vestibular system in the inner ear. These can also affect hearing. Vestibular rehabilitation may offer relief of symptoms for persons suffering from an inner ear disorder and may include an exercise program designed by specially trained therapists to help a person compensate for a loss or imbalance within the vestibular system.

Cholesteatoma
Cholesteatoma is a type of skin cyst or sac located in the middle ear. Individuals may be born with a cholesteatoma or acquire it as a complication of repeated ear infections and eustachian tube dysfunction. Cholesteatomas are benign but can erode the surrounding structures of the ear and cause hearing loss. The initial treatment for cholesteatoma is to stop the infection and drainage with antibiotics and eardrops. Surgery is required in some cases.

Cochlear implants
The cochlear implant is an electronic device that can help individuals with severe hearing loss in both ears who do not adequately benefit from hearing aids. Cochlear implant surgery is performed at all three Mayo Clinic locations.