Description of specialty
Audiovestibular (AV) physicians lead the investigation, diagnosis and management of the medical aspects of disorders of hearing and balance in children and adults. They diagnose and identify comorbidities in children and adults (as well as additional developmental issues in children), ensuring that management plans optimise the person’s potential, leading to improved quality of life and reduced morbidity.
The majority of audiovestibular services are hospital based. This is partly due to the specialised testing equipment (such as sound-proof booths, rotating chairs and videonystagmography) required to ascertain proper diagnosis and management.
Subspecialty areas include:
- vestibular disorders/neuro-otology (paediatric and adult)
- auditory processing disorders
- tinnitus and hyperacusis (paediatric and adult)
- misophonia
- assessment of patients for suitability for cochlear implantation (paediatric and adult)
- bone-anchored hearing aids
- cleft palate as well as developmental disorders of speech and language.
18/09/2018