Clinical Services
Featuring a multidisciplinary team of audiologists, speech pathologists, Certified Otolaryngology Nurses (CORLN), 13 physicians and two academic faculty, the department offers comprehensive services including otology/neurotology, head and neck oncology, laryngology, rhinology, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and pediatric otolaryngology.
The Iowa team was first to provide bilateral cochlear implantation and to date, 131 patients have received bilateral implants. 60 adults and 26 children have received simultaneous (both sides done during same surgery) cochlear implants. In addition, 18 adults and 27 children have received sequential implants where surgery is performed on the other side at a later date.
Our skull base surgery team specializes in minimally invasive approaches to lesions of the anterior and lateral skull base. The team manages skull base disorders and includes neurotologists, rhinologists, neurosurgeons, neurophthalmologists, and neuro– and interventional radiologists. We have extensive experience with hearing preservation strategies for acoustic neuroma and cranial nerve sparing procedures for other skull base neoplasm's.
The Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery has seven physicians listed on the 2009-10 "Best Doctors in America" database.
Stories of Hope
Truly Blessed
When Kelby Telander, now 6, didn't pass his newborn hearing test, his parents, Tina and Neil, were concerned. After several more failed tests, they were relieved when he finally passed. When he was 21 months old, his daycare provider expressed concern about Kelby's ability to hear. He was tested again and results showed he was severely hearing impaired.
His parents brought him to University of Iowa Children's Hospital where he was diagnosed with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome, which causes hearing to come and go.
Kelby was fitted for hearing aids, and his parents could see a change right away. However, as is typical in the disorder, his hearing continued to decline. Within six month, the hearing in Kelby's left ear was profoundly impaired.
He was now considered a candidate for a cochlear implant. His surgery was performed a month later and according to his parents, "his hearing was truly reborn."
Kelby has not just benefited from the clinical and research expertise of the professionals at Iowa; he is helping future patients as a participant in the Cochlear Implant Grant Study.
The Telanders, of North Liberty, Iowa, believe they "have truly been blessed to be located next to one of the best hospitals in the nation for otolaryngology and cochlear implants, not to mention world–renowned surgeons."