Hearing and balance disorders, particularly vertigo, affect people’s daily routines, activities and life quality. More importantly, they can lead to accidents.

The Hearing and Balance Clinic under the Ear, Nose and Throat Center at Bumrungrad Hospital realizes the importance of the early detection and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. The clinic aims to improve the quality of life of both children and adults afflicted with a range of diseases and conditions associated with hearing and balance.

Diagnosis and treatment services provided by highly-qualified specialists and medical professionals working with the latest technology and equipment include:

Diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders

Including vertigo as well as the following conditions:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), a disorder of the inner ear’s vestibular system which causes vertigo, especially during changes in head positions, such as lying down, getting up, rolling over, bending the head down or lifting the head up.
• Meniere’s Disease (excess fluid in the inner ear) which causes vertigo, pressure in the ear, hearing problems and ringing in the ear.
• Vestibular Neuronitis (Inflammation of the inner ear and/or the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain).
• Acoustic Neuroma (tumor that originates in the canal connecting the brain to the inner ear)
• Sudden hearing loss
• Hearing loss from other causes, including virus, syphilis, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• Loss of balance, including unsteadiness, imbalance, and staggering while walking.

Diagnosis and treatment of hearing disorders in infants and young children

Including congenital hearing loss and hearing problems.

Test of balance using advanced medical equipment

• Videoelectronystagmography: VNG (Examination of balance organ in the inner ear)
• Electrocochleography: ECOG (Fluid pressure test)
• Posturography (Investigation of balance function)

Hearing test using advanced medical equipment

Standard hearing test

• Audiometry (Hearing ability test)
• Tympanometry (Test of middle ear function)

Hearing test using special medical equipment

• Auditory Brain Stem Response: ABR (Neurologic test of auditory brainstem function in response to auditory stimuli)
• Otoacoustic Emission: OAE (measure of hair cell function in the inner ear)
• Auditory Steady State Response: ASSR (Electrophysiologic measurement of hearing at various frequencies)

Hearing Screening Check

• Screening in adults
• Screening in newborns and infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: NICU

Balance Screening Test

• Screening during annual check-up for people with no symptoms
• Screening for confirmed diagnosis in people with previously identified balance disorders

Hearing Aid

For patients with hearing problems that cannot be treated medically, the doctors will recommend electronic devices, including hearing aids and artificial hearing devices.

As hearing and balance disorders are caused by a number of factors, the doctor will use the best treatment option that would be most appropriate for each patient.

Hearing Disorders

• Medication
• Tympanoplasty, explore middle ear, stapes surgery
• Transtympanic injection
• Hearing aids
• Artificial hearing implants

Vertigo and Balance Disorders

• Physical Therapy for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): The doctor will choose the most appropriate treatment for each patient from the following options:
  • Epley maneuver
  • Semont maneuver
  • Lampert maneuver
  • Barbeque maneuver
• Balance Stability System Training by
  • Posturography
  • Vestibular balance exercise

 

• Transtympanic Procedure

Posturography is used to assess and diagnose the balance stability system and help people with balance disorders. With the posturography, an individualized therapy program is set up for each patient. Nurses who have been specially trained in balance rehabilitation using posturography will look after the patients closely

The Hearing and Balance Clinic at Bumrungrad Hospital is comprised of specialists and medical professionals who work closely to achieve the best treatment results. The professionals working in the clinic include:

• Otolaryngologists
• Otoneurologists
• Audiometrists
• Speech-language pathologists
• Nurses who have been specially trained in the care of patients with hearing and balance disorders