State-of-the-art care for patients with ear, balance, and lateral skull base disorders — delivered by a specialised multidisciplinary team.
The Otology-Neurotology division aims to deliver state-of-the-art care for patients with ear, balance and lateral skull base disorders. Our specialized physicians work closely with audiologists, rehabilitation therapists and other professionals to formulate the best diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of hearing and balance disorders.
Millions of people worldwide experience dizziness/vertigo, balance problems and hearing loss. These can be quite debilitating, affecting people's sense of well-being, profession and livelihood. Symptoms are difficult to describe by the patient and quite challenging to diagnose and treat. 65% of persons over 65 years of age experience vertigo or balance disorders, often on a daily basis. In the primary care setting, 70% of elderly patients present with dizziness/vertigo as a chief complaint. Over 30% of adults have experienced at least one episode of vertigo requiring a visit to the doctor. Vertigo and balance disorders can result in serious patient falls, resulting in fractures, intracranial bleeding and sometimes death. Vertigo and dizziness can also be the presenting symptoms of more serious diseases, such as stroke and brain hemorrhage. In the USA alone, the estimated cost of medical care for patients with dizziness and balance disorders exceeds one billion dollars yearly.
According to the WHO, 360 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss, half of which are avoidable. One in Five Americans Age 12 and Older Experiences Hearing Loss Severe Enough to Hinder Communication. The rates of hearing loss worldwide have nearly doubled in the past 30 years. These conditions often start in childhood, where communication skills and overall development are greatly affected if not diagnosed and treated early. Causes and treatments vary greatly.