Have you been looking for an ear doctor in Robbinsville, NJ, because you suspect you may have hearing problems? Sometimes hearing loss can be sudden, but it typically occurs gradually. If you’re not careful, you may miss the signs of gradual hearing loss and fail to get timely help.
Here at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy in Robbinsville, NJ, we offer professional audiology services to help you manage hearing loss and other ear-related problems. We provide ear surgery and a full range of ENT services to provide customized treatment plans and ensure that we address all our patients’ ear-related concerns.
When you visit Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy, expect to be served by a team of top audiologists and physicians who are expertly trained to diagnose, treat, and manage ear problems.
Some of the hearing conditions that we treat here in Robbinsville include:
- Dysfunction of the Eustachian tubes
- Buildup of earwax
- Perforation of the eardrum
- Hearing loss
- Chronic ear infections
- Recurrent ear infections
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Balance disorders
- Fullness of the ear
Ear specialists in Robbinsville
Did you know that there are different types of ear doctors, based on their education and skills? Here is a breakdown that will help you identify which ear specialist you need.
Audiologists
An audiology expert is a licensed hearing healthcare professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating balance disorders and hearing loss in children and adults.
In simpler terms, an audiology expert is a hearing doctor. Most audiologists, like our expert team at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy, offer the following services:
- Speech and hearing rehabilitation programs
- Hearing exams
- Fitting, customization, and maintenance of hearing aids
- Treatment of tinnitus and balance disorders
A hearing doctor has comprehensive knowledge of the vestibular and human auditory systems. Audiologists have extensive training in the reproduction of sound, which allows them to fit and adjust hearing aids accurately.
Otolaryngologists
An otolaryngologist is a physician (doctor of medicine) who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the ears, throat, neck, and mouth. In simpler terms, an otolaryngologist is an ear doctor.
Otolaryngologists are trained in both surgery and medicine to be able to treat serious hearing loss problems that require surgical treatment, such as cochlear implants. An otolaryngologist specializes in hearing loss problems caused by benign tumors, trauma, or infection in the ears.
A typical examination begins with a visit to the ear doctor who provides a medical course of treatment, followed by a referral to the hearing doctor for the prescription and fitting of hearing aids. In severe cases, the ear doctor may refer you to the hearing doctor for counseling, which will help you redevelop language recognition and communication skills.
Importance of Early Detection and Prevention of Hearing Loss
The most common cause of hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. If you suspect you have hearing problems, chances are high that it may be noise-related. Before you visit an ear doctor, here are some tell-tale signs that will indicate your hearing loss is caused by noise.
- Muffled sounds and speech
- Difficulty hearing sounds that are high pitched
- You struggle with understanding conversations over the phone
- Constant ringing sound in the ears
- Inability to comprehend conversations in noisy public places like restaurants
- You frequently ask others to speak slowly and more clearly
- Hypersensitivity to specific sounds (some sounds are bothersome and may cause pain in the ear)
- You always turn up the volume of the TV or radio so that you can hear better
Do you have any of the above hearing loss symptoms? If so, we recommend that you get your hearing tested by a qualified hearing doctor as soon as possible.
Even if you do not have the above symptoms of hearing loss, we recommend that you have a basic hearing evaluation from an ear doctor during your next regular health checkup. The ear doctor may refer you to an audiology expert if he or she finds out the following during the test:
- You have been exposed to loud noises in the past
- Your family or friends have noticed that you may have a hearing problem
- You feel and sense that your hearing ability has weakened
The audiologist may have you listen to various sounds through some headphones to determine the level of the softest sounds that you can hear. Depending on the problem, the hearing doctor may also have you repeat a list of words, or run other special tests on you.
Other Signs You Need an Audiologist’s Help
Hearing Loss in One Ear
Some people struggle with hearing loss in one ear instead of both. It is always harder for such people to discover that they are gradually losing their hearing because the other ear works perfectly.
Could you be losing your hearing ability in one ear without your knowledge? If you have any of the following signs, you should pay a visit to an ear doctor or audiology specialist immediately.
- Difficulty in hearing in noisy places
- You cannot tell different sounds apart
- You find it difficult to ignore background noise
- When sound comes from one direction, your hearing is very low
- You cannot pinpoint where a certain sound is coming from
The major cause of hearing loss in one ear is the inability of sound to pass across the ear. In most cases, an ear infection or ear wax buildup is the cause.
Hearing Loss in Children
When was the last time you took your child for an ear checkup? They may be experiencing hearing loss without your knowledge.
Below are signs of hearing loss in children. If you identify any of these signs in your child, take them to an audiologist. Early detection of hearing problems can help prevent permanent hearing loss and developmental delays. Symptoms include:
- The child talks unusually loudly
- When you call to the child using the normal tone of voice, they do not respond
- The child is slow to learn to talk and some of their words are unclear
- They respond inappropriately to questions
If your child displays the above signs, do not panic. In the majority of cases, hearing loss in children is caused by a buildup of fluid in the ear. The condition is treatable and it gets better over time.
However, only a licensed ear doctor will be able to determine what condition your child is suffering from. Do not diagnose your child. Take them to a specialist.
Now, let’s talk about babies. Do you know whether your baby has a hearing problem? Although babies have a hearing check a few weeks after they are born, we recommend that you have your baby checked out again if you notice the following signs:
- The baby is more than four months old, but they never turn towards voices
- Loud noises do not startle the baby
- The baby hears some sounds but misses other sounds
- It has been almost 15 months since the baby was born, yet they have not uttered a single recognizable word
- The baby only notices you when they see you, not when you call their name
Audiologist Frequently Asked Questions
There are many causes of hearing loss. The most common causes include:
• Loud noise exposure
• Aging
• Earwax buildup
• Ear infections
• “Glue ear” (fluid buildup)
• Otosclerosis (bony growth)
• Cholesteatoma (buildup of skin cells)
Sometimes hearing loss gets better on its own, especially if it was caused by earwax buildup. Gradual loss of hearing may require treatment using hearing aids, implants, and communication tactics like lip-reading and sign language.
Sometimes hearing loss gets better on its own, especially if it was caused by earwax buildup. Gradual loss of hearing may require treatment using hearing aids, implants, and communication tactics like lip-reading and sign language.
In most cases, it is impossible to prevent hearing loss. However, there are measures you can take to avoid damaging your hearing. Avoid loud noises, do not insert foreign objects into your ears (including Q-tips), and always wear ear protection when working in a noisy environment.
Driving Directions
Pay us a visit at One Union Street, Suite 203, Robbinsville, NJ 08691 to book an appointment with a hearing doctor.
From Trenton, NJ:
- Take NJ-33 E for 1.5 miles
- Turn right to stay on NJ-33 E for 3.2 miles
- Turn left onto Washington Blvd
- Turn right onto Union St
- Turn left, then right, to reach our office.
Why Choose Becker ENT?
Our team consists of expert audiologists and board-certified ENT physicians who will provide you with high-quality care that will enhance the quality of your life. At Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy in Robbinsville, we not only provide top-notch evaluation and treatment of hearing and balance disorders, but we also personalize your care to provide you with hope, compassion, and respect throughout your treatment.The time to improve your hearing has come. Call us on Call 609-436-5740 or make an appointment online at Becker ENT and Allergy in Robbinsville, NJ with our top audiologists.