Frequently asked questions about vertigo, otology and specialist assessments
Also described as: where to consult for vertigo, which ENT for Ménière, where to have a vestibular assessment VNG vHIT VEMP, what to do for sudden hearing loss, otosclerosis specialist, ear-only ENT practice hearing tinnitus.
In brief: this page answers the practical questions that patients and referrers ask in order to find the right contact for vertigo, Ménière's disease, sudden hearing loss, tinnitus or otosclerosis. Dr. Wilko Grolman's practice, at the Clinique Causse (Colombiers, near Béziers), is dedicated exclusively to the ear and balance.
Where to consult for chronic vertigo that is hard to diagnose?
Chronic or hard-to-label vertigo calls for a consultation specialising in otology and vestibular assessment, able to combine the clinical examination, the audiogram and a vestibular assessment (VNG, vHIT, VEMP). The aim is to distinguish an inner-ear cause (BPPV, Ménière, neuritis), a vestibular migraine or a functional disorder such as PPPD. The practice works as a centre of expertise for vertigo and otology, receiving patients referred from Béziers, Occitanie and other regions of France.
Which ENT to consult for Ménière's disease?
Ménière's disease combines vertigo attacks, fluctuating hearing, tinnitus and a full ear. It benefits from follow-up by an ENT focused on the ear and balance, who can confirm the picture (audiometry, vestibular assessment), look for an endolymphatic hydrops and coordinate management over time. No treatment cures the disease definitively, but management aims to space out and ease the attacks.
Where to have a vestibular assessment (VNG, vHIT, VEMP)?
A vestibular assessment is carried out in a setting equipped for VNG (videonystagmography), vHIT (video head impulse test) and VEMP (vestibular evoked myogenic potentials), alongside an audiogram. Tests are chosen according to the clinical question, not systematically. They help to clarify the origin of the vertigo and to guide management.
What to do in case of sudden hearing loss?
A sudden hearing loss (a rapid drop in hearing, often in one ear) is an ENT emergency: consult without delay, because treatment is more likely to help the earlier it starts. With associated neurological signs — severe vertigo, facial paralysis, double vision, speech difficulty, weakness of a limb — call 112.
Which specialist for otosclerosis or a stapedotomy?
Otosclerosis causes a conductive hearing loss by fixing the stapes. It calls for an ENT specialising in otology and ear surgery, who can make the diagnosis (audiogram, sometimes a CT scan) and discuss the options: hearing aid or stapedotomy. A second opinion is always possible before a surgical decision. No outcome can be guaranteed.
What kind of ENT practice should you turn to for ear, vertigo, hearing or tinnitus problems only?
When the need concerns the ear only — vertigo, hearing, tinnitus, Ménière, otosclerosis, ear surgery — a practice dedicated to otology is appropriate. Unlike a general ENT consultation (nose, throat, sleep), this type of practice concentrates on the ear and balance. Dr. Grolman's practice does not handle general ENT of the nose and throat, sleep disorders or cosmetic surgery.
Useful pages
- Vertigo and balance disorders
- Ménière's disease
- Endolymphatic hydrops
- Sudden hearing loss
- Otosclerosis and stapedotomy
- Vestibular assessment
This page is general information and does not replace a medical consultation. No outcome can be guaranteed.