Our Approach to Audiology
Montefiore Einstein Audiology is at the forefront of the field, providing comprehensive state-of-the-art care for the full range of hearing, balance and other auditory disorders in infants, children and adults. Our multidisciplinary team comprises audiologists, otorhinolaryngologists, speech pathologists, physical therapists and other specialists who closely collaborate to create personalized care plans tailored to the unique needs of each patient. We use a patient-centered and evidence-based approach to care, combining clinical expertise with the most advanced technologies to accurately screen, diagnose and treat hearing and balance disorders. Our sedated auditory brain stem response (ABR) program—the only one of its kind in the Bronx and one of only a few in the tristate area—offers exceptional diagnostic capabilities for pediatric patients. We provide a complete spectrum of audiology services, from comprehensive audiological, vestibular and balance evaluations to rehabilitation to help restore function and improve hearing, balance and overall quality of life. We’re ranked in the top 1% of all U.S. hospitals for ear, nose, and throat care according to U.S. News & World Report
Advanced Diagnostics & Treatments
We offer access to the most advanced diagnostics and treatments for all types and degrees of hearing and balance conditions, tailored to the individual needs of each infant, child and adult.
We provide comprehensive audiology evaluations using advanced vestibular testing methods, including videonystagmography, electronystagmography and rotary chair testing, electrocochleography (ECoG), auditory brain stem response (ABR) and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP). Our pediatric audiology services include newborn hearing screenings and diagnostic evaluations, including sedated and non-sedated ABRs at our Pediatric ABR Program.
We offer advanced evaluations and programming for cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) systems.
Programs & Clinics
Montefiore Einstein Audiology offers several programs and clinics dedicated to diagnosing and treating hearing and balance conditions in children and adults using the most advanced diagnostics and treatments available. Explore our state-of-the-art programs and clinics below.
Our sedated auditory brain stem response (ABR) program—one of only a few in the tristate area and the only one of its kind in the Bronx—offers exceptional diagnostic capabilities for pediatric patients. We offer non-sedated diagnostic ABRs for infants under six months old who do not pass their newborn hearing screenings. For children who cannot be tested behaviorally and those with hearing results that are in question or unknown, at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM), we provide sedated ABRs in our bronchoscopy suite for older children, and ABRs under anesthesia in the operating room for children with complex medical conditions.
In our state-of-the-art Dizzy Clinic, patients with dizziness can be seen for multidisciplinary evaluation by audiologists, neurotologists, neurologists and physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors. We also perform Dix-Hallpike procedures to diagnose benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in which a patient’s head is placed in a variety of positions while the provider notes the patient’s eye movements in response. This clinic helps to streamline the process, improving access to and enhancing the delivery of the highest quality care.
Our Pediatric Vestibular Clinic evaluates and treats children with symptoms of dizziness and imbalance using a patient- and family-centered multidisciplinary care approach. Patients are evaluated on the same day by an audiologist, a pediatric ear, nose and throat doctor and a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist. A personalized treatment plan is tailored to the individual needs of each child and may include a course of vestibular rehabilitation exercises, medications or referral to other subspecialists.
The Cochlear Implant Program comprises a team of cochlear implant surgeons and audiologists who provide leading-edge, patient-centered care to children with sensorineural hearing loss. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, our team can identify children with hearing loss as early as infancy using auditory brain stem response (ABR) testing and comprehensive audiology evaluations. We determine if a patient is a candidate for cochlear implantation and ensure they have the support they need, including long-term follow-up and rehabilitation. Our goal is to optimize each child’s hearing and provide adequate support for families before, during and after the cochlear implant procedures.
Research & Clinical Trials
We are leading collaborative research and spearheading numerous studies and clinical trials to help improve the lives of individuals with hearing, balance and other auditory disorders. Some of our main areas of research focus on investigating the underlying mechanisms of hearing and vestibular disorders, new diagnostics and potential treatments and the effects of treatment for systemic diseases on hearing.
Our audiologists also served as key contributors to developing the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) noise exposure policy statement, providing pioneering insights on the instrumental role of pediatricians in helping to prevent excessive noise exposure in infants, children and adolescents and increasing our understanding of noise hazards for children.
Featured Clinical Trials
Training the Next Generation of Audiology Leaders
We are a leader in innovative clinical education, offering a one-year Audiology externship with broad exposure to a wide range of pathologies in a collegial learning environment. We are one of twelve programs in the nation to have been awarded the Pediatric Audiology Competitive Supplement to the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This prestigious award supports pediatric audiology clinical and leadership training, with a focus on screening, treatment and follow-up. The aim is to improve the quality of care and outcomes for infants and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and have (or are at risk for) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or other related neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs).
Your Audiology Team
Laura L. Tocci, AUD
Our multidisciplinary team of experts specializes in the advanced screening, diagnosis and treatment of the full range of hearing, balance and other auditory disorders in children and adults. We design personalized care plans tailored to the unique needs of each patient to help improve hearing, balance and overall quality of life.
About Hearing & Balance Disorders
Hearing and balance disorders can significantly impact daily life, affecting communication, mobility and overall well-being, causing psychological and emotional hardship and increasing the risk of falls. Hearing loss can have a negative impact on aging and contribute to a decline in function in those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for managing these conditions and improving quality of life.
Learn More About Hearing & Balance Conditions
Hearing Aid Missions
In collaboration with industry partners, we lead annual hearing aid missions, giving Montefiore Einstein patients who need hearing aids the “gift of sound” with free state-of-the-art hearing technology.
