Refer a Patient to Ohio Ear
Specialized Hearing, Balance & Ear Care for Your Patients
A Specialized Extension of Your Patient’s Care
Ohio Ear provides focused evaluation and treatment for patients with hearing loss, balance disorders, chronic and complex ear conditions, and conditions requiring advanced ear surgery. Led by a fellowship-trained ear surgeon, our practice is designed to serve as a specialized resource for physicians, audiologists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals throughout Ohio. Whether your patient needs a surgical opinion, a more focused evaluation, advanced hearing care, or help getting to the bottom of persistent symptoms, we’re here to collaborate.
Our Focus Areas
Hearing & Audiology
Hearing and hearing loss, audiology and hearing aids, cochlear implants
Balance & Dizziness
Dizziness and balance disorders, conditions involving the hearing and balance nerve
Ear Conditions
Chronic ear disease, eardrum and middle-ear conditions, complex ear conditions
Advanced Surgery
Advanced ear surgery, skull-base conditions, CSF leaks
When to Consider Referring to Ohio Ear
You don’t need to determine the exact diagnosis before referring a patient. Consider Ohio Ear when a patient has an ear, hearing, or balance problem that would benefit from specialized evaluation.
Referral Scenarios
Complex or Chronic Ear Conditions
Patients with persistent ear disease, previous ear procedures, eardrum problems, conductive hearing loss, or other challenging ear conditions may benefit from fellowship-trained evaluation.
Surgical Evaluation
Dr. Jimmy provides specialized evaluation for patients who may require ear surgery, including tympanoplasty, tympanomastoidectomy, stapedectomy, cochlear implantation, ear canal procedures, skull-base surgery, and CSF leak repair.
Hearing Loss
Patients experiencing hearing loss can receive comprehensive audiologic evaluation and hearing care. When testing identifies findings requiring medical evaluation, Ohio Ear can provide that expertise within the same specialized practice.
Cochlear Implant Evaluation
Patients who continue to struggle despite appropriately fitted hearing aids may benefit from evaluation for cochlear implantation. Cochlear implants aren’t limited to patients who are completely deaf. If hearing aids are no longer providing adequate benefit, we can help determine whether cochlear implantation should be considered.
Persistent Dizziness or Balance Problems
Patients with unresolved dizziness can sometimes spend months moving between providers and tests without receiving a clear diagnosis. Ohio Ear takes a history-driven approach to dizziness and balance disorders, using testing when appropriate rather than automatically making it the first step.
Second Opinions
Ohio Ear welcomes patients who have already undergone evaluation or surgery and would benefit from another perspective on their diagnosis or treatment options.
Resources for Healthcare Professionals
For ENT Physicians
General ENT practices manage an enormous range of conditions involving the ears, nose, throat, head, and neck. Ohio Ear can serve as an additional resource when a patient’s condition requires more focused ear expertise. Dr. Jimmy completed fellowship training specifically dedicated to advanced ear surgery following his ENT residency. His practice includes the evaluation and treatment of complex ear disease, advanced hearing loss, cochlear implantation, skull-base conditions, and other challenging otologic conditions. The goal is collaboration. When a patient needs a level of ear care outside the routine scope of your practice, Ohio Ear is available to help.
For Audiologists
Audiologists are an essential part of the hearing care continuum. Ohio Ear works with audiologists to provide medical and surgical evaluation when hearing testing suggests a condition requiring additional investigation. That may include patients with asymmetric hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, poor word recognition, possible eardrum or middle-ear pathology, significant hearing loss despite amplification, potential cochlear implant candidacy, or other findings requiring medical evaluation. Our goal is to complement the work of audiologists and provide patients with access to specialized medical expertise when they need it.
For Primary Care Providers
Patients don’t always describe their symptoms in clear medical terms. They may simply say: ‘My hearing is getting worse,’ ‘My ear won’t stop draining,’ ‘The room keeps spinning,’ ‘I keep losing my balance,’ ‘My hearing aids aren’t helping anymore,’ or ‘My ear keeps ringing.’ You don’t need to determine which specific ear subspecialty they need before making a referral. If the primary concern involves hearing, balance, or the ear, Ohio Ear can help evaluate the problem and determine the appropriate next step.
For Neurologists
Dizziness and balance disorders can cross the boundaries between otology and neurology. Dr. Jimmy works collaboratively with neurologists when patients have conditions requiring expertise from both specialties, including coordination of medical management when appropriate. Our goal isn’t to create another stop in the patient’s journey. It’s to help determine which system is contributing to the symptoms and get the patient to the care they need.
For Physical Therapists
For many patients with balance disorders, physical therapy can be one of the most important parts of treatment. Dr. Jimmy believes vestibular physical therapists play a critical role in caring for appropriate dizziness patients. When a patient’s diagnosis points toward physical therapy, Ohio Ear’s goal is to get them to an experienced therapist efficiently rather than delaying treatment through unnecessary steps. We value relationships with physical therapists who have expertise in dizziness and balance rehabilitation.
Collaborative Care for Skull-Base Conditions
Some conditions involving the ear extend into the skull base and structures surrounding the brain. Dr. Jimmy’s fellowship training included skull-base surgery, tumors involving the hearing and balance nerve, surgical approaches providing access to the brain through the ear, and repair of CSF leaks. These complex cases can require collaboration between an ear surgeon and neurosurgeon. Each specialty brings a different skill set, allowing the team to approach conditions involving the ear, skull base, hearing and balance nerves, and brain collaboratively.
Why Refer to Ohio Ear?
Focused Expertise
Ohio Ear is dedicated specifically to hearing, balance, and ear conditions.
Fellowship-Trained Ear Surgery
Dr. Jimmy completed additional fellowship training specifically focused on advanced ear surgery following ENT residency.
Modern Surgical Techniques
When appropriate, Dr. Jimmy utilizes endoscopic ear surgery and other modern approaches to the treatment of ear conditions.
Diagnosis-First Balance Care
Our approach to dizziness emphasizes understanding the patient’s history and symptoms before automatically ordering extensive testing.
Integrated Hearing Care
Audiology, hearing aids, medical evaluation, cochlear implant evaluation, and surgical expertise can be coordinated within the same specialized practice.
Collaborative Approach
We recognize that complex patients often require multiple areas of expertise. Ohio Ear works with ENTs, audiologists, physical therapists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, primary care providers, and other healthcare professionals to help patients receive appropriate care.
How to Refer a Patient
Referring a patient to Ohio Ear should be straightforward. Contact us by phone, fax, online referral form, or submit medical records directly. When available, please include relevant office notes, audiograms and hearing evaluations, vestibular or balance testing, imaging reports and studies, previous operative reports, pathology or laboratory results when applicable, and current treatment information. Our team can review the available information and help coordinate the appropriate appointment.
Ohio Ear does not require a physician referral for a patient to schedule an appointment. However, referrals and previous medical information can be extremely valuable, particularly for patients with complex conditions or extensive treatment histories. Individual insurance plans may also have their own referral or authorization requirements.
Let's Take Care of Your Patient Together
You know your patient. We know ears. When a hearing, balance, or ear condition requires specialized expertise, Ohio Ear is here to serve as an extension of the care you’re already providing. Whether you need a surgical opinion, cochlear implant evaluation, help with a difficult dizziness patient, or another set of eyes on a complex ear condition, we’re here to help.