Your first patient is a severely deaf child who has just been fitted with a surgically implanted cochlear implant, a device that bypasses the ear and sends signals directly to the auditory nerve. Your job is to optimize the device to the child's needs and train the child how to interpret the sounds—they're different from sounds heard by the ear. Your second patient is an 80-year-old having trouble retaining his balance. You examine him and provide an analysis that will help his physician determine the cause. Most of your patients, though, are children and older adults with limited hearing loss. You counsel them about hearing aids and in some cases deliver the good news that the only treatment required is the removal of excess earwax.
