Department of Otolaryngology - Service Chief Reports

Neil M. Sperling, MD

The Division of Otology provides sub-specialized care for patients with diseases of the ear and temporal bone.  In striving for optimal outcomes for our patients, their care is carefully coordinated with our colleagues in the Division of Communicative Disorders, where accurate diagnosis relies on advanced technology.  Our Skull-Base team for treatment of neuro-otologic disorders includes colleagues in head and neck surgery and neurosurgery.  Continued growth has occurred in providing advanced care for the hearing impaired, including cochlear implantation, bone-anchored hearing implants, and early detection of hearing loss.  Newborn hearing screening is routine at our participating hospitals and regularly identifies hearing loss at the youngest possible age.  This enables early intervention to foster language development. 

Otology education is supplemented by the careful and precise study of the temporal bone anatomy.  The Temporal Bone Laboratory provides intensive training for all residents during each of their four years.  Our laboratory is also available for post-graduate training.  Routine educational conferences in otology take place through the Grand Rounds schedule, as well as during weekly Temporal Bone Radiology Conferences, Vestibular conferences and weekly Case Review Conferences.