Ear/Hearing
Ear Treatment & Hearing Loss Surgery in Pinehurst, Sanford, NC & Beyond
At Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, our otolaryngologists in Pinehurst, Raeford, Rockingham, Sanford and Troy are trained to treat the following:
- Diseases of the ear
- Ear infections
- Hearing and balance disorders
- Ear noise (tinnitus)
- Nerve disorders
- Ear cancer
- Traumatic injuries
- Management of outer and inner ear congenital disorders
We offer only the very best medical and surgical care for a variety of problems related to ear and hearing problems.
How Does the Ear Work?
The outer ear collects sounds. The middle ear is a pea-sized, air-filled cavity separated from the outer ear by the paper-thin eardrum. Inside the middle ear are three tiny ear bones. When sound waves strike the eardrum, it vibrates and sets the bones in motion that transmit to the inner ear. The inner ear converts vibrations to electrical signals and sends these signals to the brain. A healthy middle ear has the same atmospheric pressure as air outside of the ear, allowing free vibration. Air enters the middle ear through the narrow eustachian tube that connects the back of the nose to the ear.
Types of Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is a form of hearing impairment due to a lesion in the external auditory canal or middle ear. This form of hearing loss is usually temporary and found in those ages 40 or younger. Untreated chronic ear infections can lead to conductive hearing loss; draining the infected middle ear drum will usually return hearing to normal.
The other form of hearing loss is sensorineural hearing loss, hearing loss due to a lesion of the auditory division of the 8th cranial nerve or the inner ear. Historically, this condition is most prevalent in middle age and older patients; however, extended exposure to loud music can lead to sensorineural hearing loss in adolescents.
When Should a Hearing Test be Performed?
A hearing test should be performed for children who have frequent ear infections, hearing loss that lasts more than six weeks, or fluid in the middle ear for more than three months. There are a wide range of medical devices now available to test a child’s hearing, Eustachian tube function, and reliability of the ear drum. They include the otoscopy, tympanometer, and audiometer.
Schedule An Appointment
Make an appointment to be tested for causes of your hearing loss today.
Ear, Nose, Throat, Head & Neck Providers
Leading Ear, Nose, Throat, Head & Neck specialists in Pinehurst, Sanford, Hoke, Rockingham, Troy, NC and beyond.
Allergy Treatment
Learn more about how allergies may be the cause of your conductive hearing loss.
Audiology & Hearing Aids
Our trained audiologists can help you determine the cause of your hearing loss and refer you to an Ear, Nose, Throat, Head & Neck doctor who will provide the appropriate treatment or surgical procedure to correct your hearing problem, if necessary.
Pinehurst Surgical Clinic is a multi-specialty clinic comprised of ten specialty centers located in a state-of-the-art surgical facility in Pinehurst, NC. Our otolaryngologists deliver a variety of surgical procedures to repair ear/hearing issues at our Pinehurst, Raeford, Rockingham, Sanford and Troy clinical offices, serving patients in Southern Pines, Fayetteville, Red Springs and all surrounding areas throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond.