California Ear Institute

What We Do

California Ear Institute was founded in 1968 as the first practice to be dedicated solely to Hearing Health care in the United States.  Our world renowned surgeons have provided more than a quarter of a million visits for patients with surgery, medical, hearing aid, Cochlear Implant, Facial Nerve Disorder and Cranial Base Disorder needs. CEI is Northern California’s premier site for treatment of ear related disorders and is highly ranked among the world’s Centers of Excellence specializing in hearing and balance related disorders. The Institute is famous as a site of referral for patients from whom treatment has not turned out as expected – particularly those who require second opinions and/or revision surgical procedures.  CEI accepts most major private insurance plans for hearing testing services only.
CEI physicians treat many common ear disorders, including:

• Hearing Loss (congenital, age related, or loss induced by infection, trauma or noise)
• Impacted Ear Wax (Cerumen)
• Tinnitus
• Otitis Media (Ear Infection) or Chronic Middle Ear Fluid / “Glue Ear”
• Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear)
• Exostosis (Surfer’s Ear)
• Dizziness and balance disorders including BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
• Meniere’s Disease / Endolymphatic Hydrops / Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (AIED)
• Facial Nerve Disorders (Congenital, Trauma, Bell’s Palsy, Infection)
• Mastoid Disorders / Infections

CEI physicians also have significant experience with rare ear disorders, including:

• The largest atresia repair center in the United States, and the only location where a one-stage atresia repair combined with a Medpor auricular reconstruction can be performed in a single surgery
• Acoustic Neuroma / Vestibular Schwannoma
• Aerotitis – Barotrauma
• Canal Dehiscence Syndrome
• Cholesteatoma
• Hemi Facial Spasm
• Meningioma
• Perilymphatic Fistula
• Vascular Compression
• Vestibular Neuritis
• Vestibular Labyrinthitis

CEI has  full-staffed medical and surgery departments, hearing device centers, and balance rehabilitation experts.