About Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Expertise I am a board-certified otolaryngologist with additional subspecialty training in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. This is the subspecialty of otolaryngology that involves the ear, hearing, balance organs, the facial nerve, and surgery of the skull base including surgery for acoustic neuroma and other benign and malignant tumors of the base of the skull.
Experience Medical school, residency in otolaryngology, fellowship in otology/neurotology/skull base surgery
Organizations American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
North American Skull Base Society
American Neurotology Society
Publications Laryngoscope Otology and Neurotology
Education/Credentials MD Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 2001
Otolaryngology Residency, University of Iowa Department of Otolaryngology, Iowa City, IA
Otology/Neurotology Fellowship, House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles, CA
Expert: Eric P. Wilkinson, MD Date: 4/9/2007 Subject: hearing problems
Question I had bilateral stapedectomies in the early 90's. I woke up with a sudden hearing loss in my right ear on June 1, 2006. I have only about 5% of my hearing left, tinnitus, and am now having problems with tearing of the right eye. I also have pulsatile tinnitus in the left ear, and have been waking up at times with terrible headaches in the morning. I had a CT in June that only showed a venous angioma in the right frontal lobe. I am considering seeing a neurotologist. Are my symtoms something to be concerned about?
Answer The tinnitus and tearing changes may be due to otosclerotic changes in the temporal bone. I don't know about the headaches, though. You may want to see a neurotologist, have a CT to evaluate your temporal bone and consider cochlear implantation if you are a candidate and don't have residual conductive loss that might be amenable to revision stapedectomy. A complex case--good luck!
