Clinics for treatment of vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, hearing aids

CLINIC 1

Dr Anirban Biswas
Belle Vue Clinic
9, Dr. U. N. Bharmachari Street
Kolkata –700017

Location: Near Minto Park, Junction of U. N. Brahmachari Street and A. J. C. Bose Road

Consultation: Prior appointment (033) 22872321/6925/7473 BelleVue Clinic Ext. 2283/ 2277

Contact person : Dr Anirban Biswas' secretary Mrs. Lalima Ghosh mobile no 09836002580

Diseases on deafness and vertigo. Dr. Anirban Biswas is available here on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 12:00 noon onwards and also on other days by prior appointment through his secy. Ms. Puspita Baroi. Though only consultation on vertigo and deafness is done in this clinic, yet arrangements are available here for some routine investigations like pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, BERA, hearing aid trials, Craniocorpography (CCG) and electronystagmography (ENG).Transcranial Doppler study (TCD) to evaluate the flood flow in the posterior circulation which is very important for patients of vertigo is also done by Dr Biswas in this VERTIGO clinic at Belle Vue.Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP) and ASSR tests are also done in tis clinic. Other relevant tests, important to a neurotological patient like MRI (open gantry), CT scan, Cardiological work up, blood biochemistry, neurological/orthopaedic/general medical examination/physiotherapy are all available here.Special arrangements are available here for treatment of TINNITUS. See page on Know about Tinnitus for details of the latest treatment of Tinnitus that is available here.

Neurotological Tests at BELLE VUE Clinic

ASSR- The Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR) is an objective test to evaluate the frequency-specific hearing threshold in a hearing impaired child/adult. The click-evoked ‘BERA for threshold estimation’ test that is commonly used to determine hearing threshold objectively just gives us a broad idea of the average hearing threshold and that too mainly for the hearing in the high frequency range. ASSR test overcomes this limitation of BERA and gives us the hearing threshold in the different frequencies. ASSR test reports are just like that of a puretone audiometry test and the subject’s hearing threshold level can be ascertained in each of the different frequencies like 500Hz/1000Hz/2000Hz/4000Hz. This is extremely helpful for fitting of digital hearing aids in infants and small children.
BERA Test- The Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometry is an objective test that gives us the approximate average hearing threshold level of the subject. It is a very reliable but time consuming test to objectively evaluate the hearing threshold of an adult or child across all frequencies except for the low frequencies. It is usually done using a click sound by which the subject’s average hearing threshold across all frequencies can be automatically assessed without the subject having to respond.
Pure tone Audiometry- This subjective test is the mother of all audiological tests. Though it is a subjective test (i.e. the test result are dependent upon the subject’s responses and if the subject responds erroneously then a wrong report is obtained), yet it is the most informative test in the audiological test battery and is a very reliable test if done by a reliable person. It gives an idea of the hearing threshold in the different frequencies and also tells us whether the subject has any deafness. If there is deafness it tells us whether the deafness is due to defect in the middle ear or in the inner ear or in the nerve of hearing. Localising tests like TDT, SISI, ABLB and glycerol tests which help in diagnosing the nature and site of lesion are also here.
Impedance Audiometry- Also called tympanometry, this test tells us about the functioning of the middle ear and also that of the cochlea (i.e. inner ear). This is an objective test (i.e. the results are not dependent upon the subject’s response) and it helps the clinician to identify the nature of pathology in middle ear disorders, like whether it is a case of Otosclerosis, Otitis Media with Effusion, adhesive otitis media etc.
OAE- Otoacoustic Emission Test (OAE) is a very quick objective test to know whether the subject (i.e. the adult / child on whom the test is being conducted) has normal hearing or not. Like the other audiological tests it is a painless test. The test is very commonly used for testing newborn infants to check whether they have any hearing defect. If any deafness is detected then the degree of deafness has to be ascertained by other tests like- BERA / ASSR etc. as OAE cannot evaluate the hearing threshold and it can only tell us whether any deafness is at all present or if the hearing is normal. The OAE test is now mandatory in all newborns in most developed countries and is a must in all infants born out of at-risk-pregnancies.
EcochG- Electrocochleography (EcochG) evaluates the function of the cochlea which is a very important part of the hearing apparatus. The function of the cochlea is to convert sound energy into electrical energy and then send it to the brain for further processing. EcochG is an objective test that tells us whether the cochlea is able to carry out this function properly or not. This test is also used to confirm some neurological disorders like Meniere’s disease.
Caloric test- This age-old age test is a crude test of the balance system but is still used by some clinicians to get a very gross idea of the functioning of the vestibular labyrinths which are the organs of balance situated deep inside the ear. The vestibular labyrinths are a small part of the balance system and disorders of the vestibular labyrinth are one of the many causes of giddiness.
ENG- Electronystagmography is the basic test for evaluating the functioning of the balance system. It is the primary test of balance function and is mandatory in all patients suffering from vertigo and imbalance, i.e. giddiness and instability. It is quite a time consuming and a little cumbersome test and though objective, yet it requires a lot of cooperation from the patient. ENG test evaluates the functional and structural integrity of the vestibular labyrinths and that of the vestibulo-ocular reflex system.
CCG- Craniocorpography is a test to evaluate a part of the balance system that cannot be evaluated by ENG. It is very simple, objective test which hardly takes 5-7 minutes time and informs the clinician about the net vestibular status of the patient , i.e. whether the vestibular lesion has compensated or not. This is the most important information obtained from the CCG test and this information is of immense value to the clinician for formulating the treatment protocol in a balance disorder patient. CCG evaluates the functional and structural integrity of the vestibulo-spinal reflex system.
VEMP- Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential test evaluates the portion of the balance system that is not evaluated by the ENG and CCG tests. It is the only test which evaluates the functional and structural integrity of the vestibulo-collic reflex and assesses the saccule and inferior vestibular nerve which cannot be evaluated by the other tests. The vestibulo-collic reflex like the vestibulo-ocular and vestibulo-spinal reflexes is a very important part of the balance system and needs to be assessed in all patients of vertigo and imbalance.
TCD- Transcranial Doppler is a test to evaluate the blood flow in the brain especially the posterior circulation and also the other parts of the brain. It tells us whether there is any obstruction or stenosis in the blood vessels that supply the different parts of the brain especially the cerebellum and brainstem. In case of any abnormal increase in the velocity of blood flow an obstruction / stenosis beyond it is suspected; a decrease of velocity of blood flow indicates an obstruction / stenosis before it. TCD test is a very important test to evaluate whether the vertigo / imbalance is due to vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Blood flow in the vertebral and basilar arteries as well as the cerebral arteries and the carotids can be assessed by TCD.
Hearing aid fitting-Fitting and Programming of high tech digital hearing aids is another facility that we have at the Vertigo Clinic at Belle Vue. Very sophisticated modern digital hearing aids of Widex are dispensed through High Tech Hearing Instruments from the Vertigo Clinic at Belle Vue.
Video Nystagmography (VNG) - This is at test of the balance systems more or less similar to ENG described above.
Stabilometry: This is the most modern test for evaluating Balance System and acts as an adjuvent to ENG, VNG, CCG, VEMP etc.

CLINIC 2

NEUROTOLOGY CLINIC (for investigations only)
1A, Raja, Subodh Mallick Sq.
2nd Floor
Calcutta-700013
Tel No - 033 - 22370023 / 22252555 /

Bus stop - Wellington Square/Hind Cinema.
Metro Station - Chandni Chowk
Railway Station - Sealdah (1 km.), Howrah (4 km.)
Timing - Week days 9.00 am to 6.00PM
Consultation - Prior appointment (033)22370023 / 22349076

Contact persons

Mr. Rahul Sharma - Personal Assistant (Ph - 09831477573)
Mr. Rajesh Jaiswal - Personal Secretary cum Computer Assistant
Mr. Vivek Sinha- Audiologist

Consultancy: Investigations on deafness and/or vertigo. In this clinic only investigations for vertigo and deafness are done. Dr. Biswas does not do any consultation for treatment of neurotological disorders in this clinic as this is a referral clinic for neurotological investigations only.

CLINIC 3

VERTIGO & DEAFNESS CLINIC (For Consultation & investigation)

Vertigo & Deafness Clinic
CJ-15 SaltlakeCalcutta-700091

Phone: (033) 23214916, 23591761, 9830052580
Telefax: (033) 23215763
Location: Near Karunamoyee junction of Salt Lake, very close to tank no. 9

Clinic remains open from Monday to Saturday from 10.00AM to 6.00PM for different tests done by audiologists and for dispensing of hearing aids. Dr. Biswas available by prior appoinment for consultation on the treatment of neurotological disorders ( i.e., vertigo and deafness).This clinic has a state of the art set-up for dispensing hearing aids.All requisite arrangements for dispensing high-end digital hearing aids like REAL EAR INSERTION GAIN apparatus, Hearing aid ANALYSERS special music room with a 5.1 top-end music system for aided trials ( i.e., hearing tests for sounds and speech with the patient wearing aids) on patients in different simulated sound fields is available in this clinic.

Bus stop - Water Tank no. 9 / ICICI Bank

Consultation - Prior appointment (033) 223214916, 09830052580

Audiologist

Contact person - Mr.Rajnikant Prodhan, Mrs. Pragati Satpati, Mr. Pradip Mitra

Services Available

Pure tone audiometry with all localisingtests like SISI/TDT/ABLB/SDS/SRT.
Free field audiometry.
Visual reinforcement audiometry.
Play audiometry.
Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA/BSER) for threshhold estimation as well as site for site of lesion test.
Otoacoustic Emission test (OAE) test.(DPOAE)
Impendance Audiometry with Ac Reflex and ETF tests.
Electronystagmography (ENG).
Crariocorpography (CCS).
Dispensing of Hearing Aids.
Voice/speech therapy using Dr. Speech computerised speech therapy system.
Auditory training.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.
Services of child psychologist for psychological disorders in hearing - impaired children.
Consultancy on VERTIGO and DEAFNESS and treatment of TINNITUS using the latest system called the TINNITUS PHASE OPUT THERAPY.

Diseases of deafness and / or vertigo and hearing aids. Dr. Anirban BIswas is available here at evening on Wednesdays & Saturdays for consultation of hearing / balance disorders. For a write-up on the services provided in this clinic please contact Mr Pradeep Kr Mitra (m- 9331554321) .

Vertigo & Deaffness Clinic at CJ-15, Salt Lake has all arrangements for ethical and scientific dispensing of hearing aids. Hearing aids right from the very basic analougue body - aids (price range Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 10000/- approx.) to very high end digital hearing aids (which starts fromRs. 10000/- and are available right upto Rs. 130,000/- +) are available here. The full infrastructure for fitting of digital hearing aids (including REAL EAR INSERTION GAIN measurement and HEARING AID ANALYSERS) is there along with very competent and courteous audiologists and qualified hearing aids acousticians.A special music room fitted cwith a digital home theatre system for testing the hearing fitting in simulated sound fields and the patient's hearing for music is available here.