Tampa General Hospital's Ear, Nose & Throat Institute features an Otology & Audiology Center of Excellence. In collaboration with USF Health, it provides comprehensive, patient-centered care for individuals of all ages with hearing and balance disorders. Our multispecialty team delivers advanced diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation services for a full spectrum of inner and middle ear conditions, ranging from common issues to the most complex disorders.
Tampa General Hospital is ranked on Newsweek's World's Best Hospitals 2026 list for the eighth year in a row because of our commitment to providing compassionate care. This recognition reflects our center's commitment to improving hearing, restoring balance and enhancing quality of life for our patients through leading-edge technology and innovative surgical and non-surgical solutions. From initial evaluation through long-term management, patients receive seamless, coordinated care in one convenient location.
About Otology and Audiology Disorders
Otology and audiology are closely related medical specialties focused on hearing and balance. Otology is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the ear, including the inner and middle ear structures responsible for hearing and balance. Audiology focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and non-surgical management of hearing and balance disorders, including hearing loss, tinnitus and auditory processing conditions.
These specialties are often paired because effective care for ear-related conditions requires both medical and rehabilitative expertise. Otologists and audiologists work together to diagnose the underlying cause of symptoms and develop comprehensive treatment plans that often involve a combination of medical, surgical and rehabilitative approaches tailored to each patient's unique needs.
Hearing and balance disorders can significantly impact communication, mobility and overall well-being. Conditions such as hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus and chronic infections may develop gradually or appear suddenly, and they can affect patients of all ages. These disorders can involve delicate structures and nerves responsible for hearing and balance, making accurate diagnosis and specialized care essential.
Nearly 340,000 people in the Tampa Bay area experience hearing loss alone. While many might benefit from prescription hearing aids, others require more advanced surgical and rehabilitation interventions due to the complexity or severity of their condition.
Why Choose the Otology and Audiology Center of Excellence?
At TGH, patients benefit from a high-volume, nationally recognized program dedicated to the treatment of auditory and vestibular disorders. Patients choose us for our:
Multispecialty Care
Our center combines the expertise of fellowship-trained otologists, audiologists, neuro-otologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, oncologists and other specialists to deliver highly coordinated, multispecialty care.
Advanced Technology
As a regional leader in hearing implant technology, our team offers access to the latest advancements, including cochlear implants and osseointegrated auditory devices.
High-Volume Expertise
Our center fields thousands of patient encounters and referrals each year and performed nearly 100 cochlear implants in 2025. This demonstrates that patients benefit from a high level of specialized expertise and proven experience, from a team that routinely handles complex cases and delivers advanced procedures with confidence.
National Recognition
The team supporting patients with cochlear implants has earned designation as a Cochlear Center of Excellence by Cochlear Americas, reflecting our commitment to clinical excellence and patient outcomes.
Cutting-Edge Clinical Trials and Research
Through our close partnership with USF Health, patients also gain access to groundbreaking research and clinical trials, ensuring they benefit from the latest discoveries in hearing science and treatment.
Lifelong Hearing & Balance Care
From newborns to older adults, patients receive personalized care supported by comprehensive diagnostic testing, innovative treatment options and full-spectrum hearing rehabilitation services.
Our Team
Our team brings together fellowship-trained otologists, audiologists and a wide range of specialized providers dedicated to diagnosing and treating complex ear and hearing disorders. Through close collaboration with USF Health, patients benefit from coordinated, expert care tailored to their individual needs.
Conditions We Treat
The Otology & Audiology Center of Excellence specializes in diagnosing and managing both common and complex disorders affecting the ear, hearing and balance systems, including:
- Hearing loss (conductive, sensorineural and mixed)
- Tinnitus (ringing or noise in the ears)
- Vertigo and balance disorders
- Meniere's disease
- Chronic and acute otitis media (middle ear infections)
- Cholesteatoma
- Chronic and acute mastoiditis
- Otosclerosis
- Temporal bone tumors and cancers
- Eardrum and ossicular chain abnormalities
Because many of these conditions are interconnected, our specialists take a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment, ensuring each patient receives personalized, effective care.
Testing & Diagnostics
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. At the Otology & Audiology Center of Excellence, both adults and children have access to comprehensive auditory and vestibular testing services.
Our advanced diagnostic capabilities evaluate hearing function, inner ear health and balance disorders using state-of-the-art technology. To properly identify the underlying cause of symptoms, these assessments may include:
- Detailed hearing evaluations
- Otoscopy
- Tympanometry
- Ipsilateral and Contralateral Acoustic Reflexes
- Otoacoustic Emissions
- Air-Conduction and Bone Conduction Audiometry
- Speech Quiet and in Noise Testing
- Vestibular and Balance testing
- Videonystagmography (VNG) testing
- Oculomotors
- Optokinetics
- High Frequency Headshake
- Positional and Positioning Maneuvers, including Dix-Hallpike
- Bithermal Caloric Testing
- Rotary Chair Assessment
- Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (cVEMPs and oVEMPs)
- Videonystagmography (VNG) testing
- Specialized studies
- Evoked Potentials including Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), ElectroCochleoGraphy (ECoG) and Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR)
- Ototoxicity Monitoring of Hearing during Radiation and Chemotherapy treatments
- Specialized testing for patients with developmental and intellectual disabilities
By combining advanced testing with expert clinical evaluation, our team develops precise, personalized treatment plans that address each patient's unique condition and needs.
Treatment Options
We offer a full range of advanced treatment options tailored to each patient's specific condition, severity and lifestyle needs. Our team provides both medical and surgical solutions, along with comprehensive hearing rehabilitation services.
Treatment options may include:
- Cochlear implants for patients with severe hearing loss who no longer benefit from traditional hearing aids
- Hearing aids and assistive devices customized to improve hearing in everyday environments
- Osseointegrated auditory devices, which bypass damaged parts of the ear to directly stimulate hearing pathways
- Surgical procedures, such as tympanoplasty and ossiculoplasty, to repair the eardrum or middle ear bones
- Revision and complex ear surgeries, including treatment for tumors and chronic ear disease
- Balance and vestibular therapy to address dizziness and stability issues
Our specialists work closely with each patient to determine the most effective approach, ensuring access to the latest innovations in hearing technology and surgical care.
Support Services
At the Otology & Audiology Center of Excellence, care extends beyond diagnosis and treatment to include comprehensive support services that help patients adapt, recover and thrive.
Our team provides individualized hearing rehabilitation, including counseling, device training and ongoing support to help patients maximize the benefits of their treatment. We also offer guidance on a wide range of hearing solutions—from prescription devices to over-the-counter options—ensuring patients can make informed decisions about their care.
With access to specialists across multiple disciplines, including speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, lifestyle counseling and other experts, patients receive well-rounded support designed to improve communication, balance and overall quality of life.
Research & Clinical Trials
The Ear, Nose & Throat Institute's Otology & Audiology Center of Excellence is at the forefront of advancing hearing and balance care through innovative research and clinical trials. In collaboration with USF Health, our clinicians and scientists are leading efforts to better understand the causes of hearing loss and develop new, more effective treatments.
Our team is actively involved in groundbreaking studies exploring the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline, ototoxicity and fall prevention. Through dedicated research programs, including the Auditory Rehabilitation and Clinical Trials Laboratory (ARCT Lab), patients may have access to emerging therapies and novel treatment approaches not widely available elsewhere.
As leaders in clinical research, our specialists are helping shape the future of ear care. We're investigating next-generation solutions such as gene therapies, regenerative medicine and injectable treatments designed to restore hearing. Patients who participate in clinical trials play an important role in advancing care while gaining access to cutting-edge options.
