Audiology

Nationally Ranked in Ear, Nose, and Throat

UT Southwestern Medical Center is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top hospitals for otolaryngology, also known as ear, nose, and throat care.

Audiologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center provide expert and compassionate care for individuals with hearing (auditory) and/or balance (vestibular) impairment. Our audiologists have master’s or doctoral degrees in audiology and are licensed specialists in the evaluation and non-medical treatment of hearing and balance disorders, including tinnitus.  

Evaluation

When you have a balance or hearing problem, a variety of assessments may be warranted based on your symptoms and medical history. 

UT Southwestern offers a full range of diagnostic tools to assist in accurate diagnosis. These include:

• Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
• Comprehensive Audiological Examination
• Electrocochleography
• Electro/Video-Nystagmography (ENG/VNG)
• Oto-Acoustic Emissions (Transient-Evoked and Distortion Product)
• Platform Posturography
• Sinusoidal Harmonic Acceleration (Rotary Chair)
• Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP)

Treatment

Once a hearing problem has been diagnosed, the audiologists can assist you in selecting appropriate amplification technology. UT Southwestern is a national leader in the clinical implementation of cochlear implants and other assistive hearing technology to meet the needs of patients with hearing loss. Technological advances have contributed to substantial improvements in all types of hearing aids, including behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, in-the-canal, and completely-in-the-canal devices.

Furthermore, a bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) can provide excellent results for individuals with specific congenital ear disorders, single-sided deafness, or for those who cannot use a hearing aid due to chronic ear infections. BAHA devices and other nontraditional forms of amplification have remarkably improved hearing and quality of life for patients who are otherwise unable to benefit from traditional hearing aids.

Our Specialists

At UT Southwestern, our team of audiologists works in conjunction with otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat physicians) to evaluate each patient’s hearing loss or balance disorder. For your hearing loss, the audiologist will determine how you may benefit from an assistive hearing solution and which hearing solution is appropriate. Our specialists help you and your family members understand and evaluate your medical and non-medical treatment options.

Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are designed to overcome the loss of hearing by amplifying sounds as they reach the ear. The more sophisticated the hearing aid, the greater its ability to manipulate the sounds in order for you to understand speech and other sounds. However, every hearing loss is as unique as a fingerprint. Because of this, there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution.

Our hearing specialists, such as otolaryngologists and audiologists, understand the difficulties in matching the appropriate hearing aid to your type of hearing loss. That’s one reason our clinics dispense hearing aids.

Federal law requires that everyone receive a medical evaluation for hearing loss before they can buy a hearing aid. You can receive a waiver for this if you are 18 years old or older, but we strongly recommend you see your physician before making a decision on hearing aids. One reason is that there may be a treatable medical condition causing your hearing loss that only a medical examination will reveal.

Hearing aids cost anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars because there are many different types. Some are disposable, others are programmable and digital, some offer only a mild boost in sound while others are very powerful.

Learn more about our hearing aid services.