Experience You Can Trust
The physicians at Shohet Ear Associates have years of expertise in developing and using minimally invasive techniques for ear surgery. We use the most advanced endoscopic equipment and have been performing these procedures since the 1990s– longer than anyone in the Orange County and Los Angeles area.
Many of these minimally invasive techniques are performed in an outpatient setting. Because incisions are smaller, there is less discomfort, patients experience a quicker recovery and in the cases of implantable hearing technologies, a quicker activation of the device. Some procedures do not even require incisions.
Below is a brief overview of the different types of procedures.
Minimally Invasive Cochlear Implants
During the surgery, our physicians use a keyhole incision that is only the width of the actual device. This allows quicker healing times and earlier activation of the cochlear implant.
*Please note that this video includes graphic footage
Hybrid Cochlear Implant
A new FDA-approved device has recently come onto the market and brings together the best of two different technologies to preserve and enhance low-frequency hearing while restoring access to high-frequency hearing. The Cochlear ™ Nucleus® Hybrid Implant System is the first and only solution to incorporate hybrid hearing to help people hear again. It is composed of a hearing aid portion to address the lower frequencies and a cochlear implant to address the higher frequencies of hearing.
Who It Helps
The cochlear implant component of the hybrid device addresses severe to profound hearing loss or deafness and bypasses the cause of hearing loss to send electronic sound signals directly to the brain; when combined, these signals allow a full spectrum of sound.
How It Works
The Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid is an implanted device that amplifies low-pitched sounds by sending them down the normal pathway of hearing. At the same time, the device’s sound processor converts high-frequency sounds to digital signals and sends them to the hearing implant. These signals combine with the amplified low-pitched sounds and turn into the full spectrum of sound that the wearer hears.
The Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid is implanted during a simple outpatient procedure. Shohet Ear Associates was among the first in California to offer this innovative technology, which greatly enhances speech recognition, sound quality, and quality of life.
Surfer’s Ear Surgery
Our surgeons employ a minimally invasive technique for surfer’s ear (exostoses) surgery which is done completely through the ear canal without any visible incisions and therefore no scarring. Patients enjoy a quicker recovery and are back in the water sooner than with traditional exostoses surgery.
Endoscopic Ear Surgery
Our physicians have been treating chronic ear conditions through the ear canal using endoscopic techniques for many years. Conditions that may be treated endoscopically include cholesteatomas, middle ear and lateral skull base surgery.
Middle Ear Exploration
Middle ear conditions that require a more precise diagnosis scan be evaluated in an office setting using minimally invasive techniques. Conditions include unexplained conductive hearing loss and sudden hearing loss.