2W: Introduction to Neurotologic Surgery

School of Medicine

Neurotology is a subspecialty of otolaryngology (ENT) that deals with the evaluation and treatment of disorders of the ear, including adult and pediatric hearing loss, intracranial tumors, vertigo, facial nerve disorders, and complex infections of the ear. The specialty is multi-disciplinary and interacts frequently with other otolaryngology specialists and faculty and staff in neurosurgery, neurology, audiology, speech and language pathology, deaf education, physical therapy, and others. Students will participate in all aspects of the diagnosis and management of patients with neurotologic disorders. In the operating room students will be able to participate in and observe complex procedures such as cochlear implants, acoustic neuroma surgery, tympanic membrane reconstruction, stapedectomy, mastoidectomy and eradication of the ear, and vestibular surgery. Students will participate as members of our cochlear implant team, learning basic and advanced audiologic testing, cochlear implant evaluations, team assessment and integration, surgery, and post cochlear implant evaluation. Students will be able to participate in the activation of the cochlear implant, seeing adults and children hear for the first time. At the conclusion of the two -week rotation, students will be able to perform a specialized ear history and complex head, neck, and neurotology exams. They will be familiar with the disorders of the ear, including infections, hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, and intracranial tumors of the ear including meningioma, acoustic neuroma, and facial nerve disorders; the systems based practice involving multi-disciplinary care of neurotologic disorders, including working with the cochlear implant and surgical teams; surgical procedures involved with treating patients with complex otologic disorders; and the appropriate surgical set up, procedure, and equipment.