The Operative Unit, staffed by physicians, audiometrists, audiologists, and speech therapists, collaborates closely with the Departments of Radiology, Psychology, Genetics, and Anesthesia. As a multi-implant center, it specializes in the comprehensive study and early diagnosis of all types of hearing loss, including rare diseases, guiding patients toward the most appropriate treatment based on the type and severity of their hearing impairment.
The unit provides medical, prosthetic, classical, and endoscopic surgical treatments for conductive hearing loss caused by otosclerosis, chronic catarrhal otitis, purulent otitis, cholesteatomatous otitis, and related complications.
Treatment of moderate-to-severe conductive and mixed hearing loss, primarily due to tympanic or ossicular chain issues, involves the use of bone-anchored and bone-integrated implantable prostheses such as Bonebridge, Vibrant, Ponto, and Baha. For unilateral and bilateral hearing loss stemming from inflammatory, degenerative, or malformative cochlear conditions, multichannel cochlear implants are utilized. Therapeutic interventions also address malformations of the external ear and atresias, with the placement of aesthetic prostheses and epitheses. Additionally, Meniere’s disease is managed within the unit.
Across all medical conditions and postoperative surgical cases, the unit provides comprehensive patient care, including regular follow-ups, activation and mapping of implants, as well as auditory and speech rehabilitation. These services are delivered both in person and remotely via telemedicine, ensuring accessibility and continuity of care.
At the OU outpatient clinics, specialized otologic evaluations are performed using the following diagnostic procedures:
- Diagnostic fibroendoscopy
- Otomicroscopy with otomicrotoilette
- Digital otoendoscopy with image documentation
- Audiometry (threshold pure-tone, suprathreshold tonal, and speech audiometry)
- Impedance audiometry (tympanometry, stapedial reflex testing, and eustachian tube function assessment)
- Otoacoustic emissions testing
- Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing
- Vestibular assessments and videonystagmoscopy
- Hearing aid verification using electronic ear devices
- Pre-surgical evaluation of candidates for cochlear implantation
- Post-implant cochlear programming (fitting)
- Instrumental voice assessment
- Speech monofunctional evaluations
- Stroboscopic laryngoscopy
- Speech therapy rehabilitation
Surgical procedures, performed in outpatient, day surgery, or standard inpatient settings, include:
- Pharmacological intratympanic injections
- Myringotomy with insertion of ventilation tubes
- Myringoplasty
- Ossiculoplasty
- Tympanoplasty (closed and open techniques, classical and endoscopic approaches)
- Petrosectomy
- Surgery for facial nerve paralysis
- Stapedotomy
- Placement of bone-anchored implantable prostheses
- Cochlear implant placement
- Otoplasty
S.O.U.Head and Neck Oncology Surgery