Audiology is the study of hearing and all the parts of the ear that contribute to hearing, balance, and related disorders. Audiologists are crucial because they help to prevent and treat hearing loss in patients of all ages. At Penn Medicine Becker ENT in Mullica Hill, NJ, our expert audiologists have the skills, experience, and technology to help improve your hearing.
The Audiology Team
The team of audiologists at Becker ENT assists patients with hearing loss by diagnosing the cause of the issue and offering customized treatment plans. Most of the specialists at our Mullica Hill office also treat balance disorders in addition to other hearing-related complications. For other ENT (ear, nose, and throat) issues, they collaborate with our experienced ENT physicians to give patients comprehensive care options.
The audiologists provide:
- Yearly hearing exams
- Prevention of hearing loss
- Treatment of sudden hearing loss
- Recent hearing aid technology
- Treatment of hearing loss
- Treatment of tinnitus
Tests & Treatments for Hearing Loss
The audiologists at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy in Mullica Hill work together with ENT physicians to provide comprehensive ear care packages for patients. Some of the tests and treatments we offer include:
Audiology Tests
Commonly known as a hearing test, an audiology test assesses your hearing status.
At Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy our audiologists start with an automatic test carried out by computers, which tests the middle ear and otoacoustic emissions. You can expect to feel slight air pressure changes when the hearing doctor is testing the middle ear. For the eardrums and acoustic reflexes test, however, you can expect to hear louder tones.
The second part of the test is carried out in a soundproof room. It is divided into two parts:
- A test for pure tones
- A test for speech
For pure tones, the patient wears earplugs or headphones linked to a device sending sounds of altered volumes and pitches to each ear, one after the other. Every time the patient hears a sound, they have to react by pressing a button.
For the speech test, the patient will repeat words spoken softly and words spoken at normal conversational levels. A hearing doctor will perform the audiology test to ascertain the type of hearing disorder the patient has and the extent of their hearing loss.
Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy offers efficient hearing tests for adults and children 2.5 years and older. The results of the hearing test help your ear doctor to make a diagnosis and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
People of all ages are advised to get a hearing test from an ear doctor occasionally to detect any disorders as soon as possible. Quick treatment can often prevent further hearing loss progression.
More frequent, routine ear checkups are advised for:
- Individuals aged 55 years and above
- People who spend the majority of their time in noisy environments
Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy offers an online hearing test, which you can take before scheduling a hearing exam with one of our ear doctors. The results of your tests may indicate one of the following hearing loss types.
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- Real patient
Conductive Hearing loss surgery
Conductive hearing loss occurs due to sound reaching the inner ear at low volumes. It could result from allergies, earwax, and fluid in the middle ear, especially if one has a cold, a tumor, perforated eardrum, or an alien object in the ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss
This causes speech to sound muffled and is the result of nerve damage in the ear or brain. Various factors may lead to nerve damage including aging, viruses, and tumors. Patients with this type of hearing loss typically use hearing aids because it is not easy to manage using other treatment methods.
Mixed hearing loss
This is a combination of the two other types of hearing loss. It results from damage to the outer, middle, and inner ear. The hearing doctor may need to carry out further screening of the inner ear before suggesting a treatment solution.
Cochlear implants for severe hearing loss
Cochlear implants are surgically placed in patients with severe hearing loss or those who are deaf. These patients cannot improve their hearing using hearing aids, making one or two cochlear implants an appropriate treatment. They function by sending electrical signals to the auditory system since the inner ears cannot send the signals.
After the surgery, the patient gets an external processor and receives speech and auditory-verbal therapy.
Tinnitus diagnosis
If you experience ringing in your ears, visit the audiology department at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy. A hearing doctor will assess your ears, which includes tests such as pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry. The tests will determine the rate of tinnitus. You will also fill a questionnaire, which helps the doctor to determine the frequency of your symptoms.
Treatment options include:
- Digital hearing instruments
- Sound therapy
- Habitual practices like having constant music that masks the tinnitus
- Mindful exercises like yoga
Candidates for Audiology
The audiology services offered at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy are suitable for people with the following complications:
- Ringing in the ears
- Ear infections and swimmer’s ear
- People in need of hearing aids
- Anyone who needs to prevent some forms of hearing loss
- Adults and children showing signs of hearing loss
It is advised that you visit an ear doctor if you experience the symptoms below, as they are telltale signs that you are losing some of your hearing.
- Struggling to understand spoken words in crowded settings
- Turning on the volume of devices too loud because you cannot hear at normal volumes; family members and friends are likely to complain about the volume
- Becoming extremely sensitive to loud sounds
- Asking people to repeat what they say time and again
- Struggling to hear what children are saying
Driving Directions to Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy in Mullica Hill, NJ
Our offices are situated in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, at 199 Mullica Hill Road, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062.
From North Woodbury or Woodbury heights;
- Use NJ-45 S/Mantua Pike, 6.3 miles
- Turn left on Cedar road, 0.5 miles
- Turn right onto Walters road, 0.6 miles
- Turn left onto US-322 E, 0.3 miles
- Turn right onto Mullica Hill road, 459 feet
From William Heritage Winery;
- Drive West on US-322 W to Harvest Mill Way, 1.9 miles
- Continue to Mullica hill, 0.2 miles
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how many sounds you will have to listen to and the number of tests the ear doctor would like to perform. On average, however, it takes around 25 minutes.
• Aging
• Long-term exposure to noise
• Viruses and diseases
• Genetics
Schedule an Audiology Appointment at Becker ENT
Book a consultation with one of the highly trained hearing doctors at Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy in just a few steps. Each doctor’s profile is available on the website. It describes their qualifications and experience briefly, which means that you can book an appointment with the one you feel most comfortable with. To book an appointment, call the office at 856-478-3111 or use our online system.