A Sense of Purpose continued
the ENTs. They value our input, and we
value theirs. They are a great, great group of
physicians.” She works closely with
Thomas G. Brammeier, MD, director of
the Hearing and Balance Center. Kyla C.
Sherrard, PhD, chief of the Section of
Speech-Language Pathology, works with
patients who see Roger D. Tuggle, MD,
chief of the Section of Laryngology.
Dr. Sherrard explains that early on, clinicians
at Scott & White wanted to integrate the
services. “We were sharing so many patients
with the ENT physicians that it made sense
to combine them into one area.”
Hearing and balance:
Technological revolutions
Dr. Margaret Dean fits a patient with a hearing aid featuring Bluetooth technology.
earache. “Kids really require a special
approach,” says Troy D. Simon, MD, an
otolaryngologist at the College Station
clinic. “When children are sick, they may
act out of fear, frustration, or fatigue.
Asking the right questions and working
with Mom and Dad helps me figure it out.”
Douglas Martin, MD, one of the more
experienced general otolaryngologists in
Central Texas, sees pediatric and adult ENT
patients at Scott & White Healthcare Round Rock, a system location that serves a
growing population.
Ahead of the rest
The otolaryngology division’s services are
complex to match the ear, nose, and throat
anatomy. A distinctive aspect of care at
Scott & White, and one that further
safeguards the sense of hearing, is that the
Division of Otolaryngology includes the
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THE CATALYST Winter 11 | www.sw.org
nonmedical subspecialties of audiology and
speech-language pathology. In many
hospitals, audiology and speech would be
part of the rehabilitation program, but the
ENT physicians at Scott & White consider
audiology and speech to be interrelated
with otolaryngology, and a vital part of
both basic and complex care. This structure
makes it easier for specialists to work
together, and it enhances patient care.
Margaret Dean, PhD, CCC-A, section
chief of Audiology, says, “We have an
excellent working relationship with all of
While speech may not be a sense, when it
is partnered with hearing it forms the core
of human communication. Dr. Brammeier
says, “If we could never talk to another
person, it would be incredibly disturbing.
Communication is key to social beings.
Our job is to connect the whole loop
between hearing and talking.”
Hearing loss has many causes, such as
ear infections, wax buildup, injuries, or
even small brain tumors. If a patient’s case
is quite complex and isn’t solved by time or
physician intervention, an audiologist may
fit the patient with a hearing aid. Hearing
aids are more common than they were in
the past, says Dr. Dean. Sales of hearing
“We can very precisely set the output of the
hearing aid across the frequency spectrum
to better fit the hearing loss of the patient.”
—Margaret Dean, PhD, CCC-A