Hearing & Balance Disorders Specialist
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Steven D. Kushnick, MD
ENT located in Brooklyn, NY
Your ears are complex organs that detect and analyze sound and help you maintain a sense of equilibrium. Hearing and balance disorders affect these functions, which may interfere with your daily activities. Steven D. Kushnick, MD, in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing and balance disorders. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Hearing & Balance Disorders Q & A
What are hearing and balance disorders?
Hearing and balance disorders include various conditions and diseases that affect the structure and function of your ears. Your ears are sensory organs made up of three parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.
All three parts of your ear support your auditory system (or hearing), while the inner ear helps maintain your sense of balance.
What are the types of hearing disorders?
Hearing disorders include any type of hearing loss. Your hearing loss may be temporary or permanent and occur in one or both ears.
Types of hearing loss:
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs from conditions that block sound transmission through the outer ear to the middle ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss
With sensorineural hearing loss, you have inner ear damage.
Mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss means you have both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.
Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder
With auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder, hearing loss occurs because of damage to the inner ear or hearing nerve, disrupting the brain’s sound messages.
What are types of balance disorders?
Your sense of balance is dependent on many body parts, including your ears, eyes, and muscles. In your inner ear, the vestibular system helps you maintain your sense of balance and equilibrium.
Balance disorders that involve your inner ear include:
Acoustic neuroma
An acoustic neuroma is a benign growth found on the nerve that connects the inner ear to your brain.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
With BPPV, you may develop a sudden and brief episode of dizziness. It occurs when the calcium crystals in your ear loosen and move to the wrong part of the ear.
Inflammation of the inner ear
Inflammation of the inner ear, also known as labyrinthitis, means you have an inner ear infection.
Meniere’s disease
With Meniere’s disease, you may experience long periods of dizziness, as well as ringing in your ears, and hearing loss.
Vestibular migraine
Vestibular migraine is a type of migraine that causes dizziness. You may also have ringing in the ears or hearing loss.
How are hearing and balance disorders treated?
When you come in to see Dr. Kushnick with concerns about a hearing or balance disorder, he conducts a comprehensive history and physical, so you get the right diagnosis and treatment.
For hearing disorders, Dr. Kushnick may recommend decongestants, placement of eustachian tubes, or hearing aids. For balance disorders, treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication, or physical therapy.
Hearing and balance disorders affect your quality of life. For comprehensive care from an experienced ENT, call the office of Steven D. Kushnick, MD, or book an appointment online today.