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David Vernick

Bio

David M. Vernick, M.D., is an assistant clinical professor of otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School. Now in private practice, he is the former chief of the division of otolaryngology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Dr. Vernick earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School. After completing his residency in otolaryngology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Institute, he completed fellowships in otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery at the University of Michigan and Greater Detroit Otology. Dr. Vernick is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, and has a subspecialty certification in neurotology. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Specialties:

  • otolaryngology

Affiliation:

  • Harvard Health Publications

Location:

Group Memberships:

Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Otolaryngology:
    Hearing Restored in Mice With Noise-Induced Deafness

    WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Although loud noise can result in irreversible hearing loss, researchers in Boston partially restored the hearing of mice with noise-induced deafness by regenerating damaged sound-sensing hair cells in the inner ear.

    The study authors said their find...Full Article

  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What is sensorineural hearing loss?
    More than 80% of people who are hard of hearing have sensorineural hearing loss. It's the result of...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    Can a hearing aid have a wireless connection?
    With advances in wireless technology, hearing aids are now capable of sending signals back and forth between each other so that both ears can process sound together. Changes in programming and use of volume adjustments can be made to both ears by using only one program button. In addition, some m...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What is an assistive listening device?
    Assistive listening devices refers to a wide variety of devices that are used in addition to or instead of hearing aids to help you hear. Most are situational -- that is, you use them in situations in which you have difficulty. For instance, there are listening systems for TVs, radios, or stereos...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    Can a hearing aid cause further hearing loss?
    Since hearing aids cause powerful amplification of sound, it's only natural to wonder if hearing aids can further deteriorate hearing. The answer is yes, if their maximum volume is set too high. That's why it's extremely important to find a reputable hearing aid professional, often called a dispenser,...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    How does a hearing aid work?
    Even with their impressive advances, all hearing aids have the same primary purpose: to make sound louder. They have the same basic components, and most run on batteries. They contain at least one microphone that picks up sound and converts it into electrical signals. These signals are transmitted...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What are the different treatment options for hearing loss?
    Depending on your test results and your medical history, your doctor or audiologist (a health professional who assesses hearing and balance, as well as fits and dispenses hearing aids) may recommend any of several solutions. If you've got a middle ear infection, you may need antibiotics. If your...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    How can an imaging test help diagnose hearing loss?
    If the evoked potential test for hearing loss is inconclusive or suggestive of a problem in sound transmission, your doctor might order an imaging test, either a computerized tomography (CT) scan or an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to look for abnormal anatomy or growths in the ears or the brain....  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What is an evoked-potential test for hearing loss?
    Evoked potential test for hearing loss may be done either if the results of your audiogram are unclear or if the hearing in one ear is significantly worse than the hearing in the other. Your doctor or audiologist (a health professional who assesses hearing and balance, as well as fits and dispenses...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What is an otoacoustic test for hearing loss?
    Otoacoustic emissions test assesses whether the hair cells of the cochlea, in the inner ear, are functioning. Normally, hair cells emit sound in response to incoming sounds. Otoacoustic testing detects the hair cell sound with a rubber-tipped probe inserted into the ear canal. The procedure usually...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What is an acoustic-reflex threshold test for hearing loss?
    Although it's not new, acoustic reflex threshold test for hearing loss is being used more frequently because of a growing recognition that it's helpful in diagnosing problems beyond the inner ear -- in the pathways leading to the brain. The purpose of the test is to see if the ear's natural reflex...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What is tympanometry?
    Tympanometry, or impedance testing, is done if your audiological exam suggests that your hearing difficulty is in the middle ear. For this test, an earplug attached to a machine called a tympanometer is placed in the ear. Tones and air pressure are channeled through the plug into the ear canal to...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    How can I assess the severity of my hearing loss?
    Circle the number of points next to the answer that best describes your hearing.

    1. I have a problem hearing over the telephone.

    Almost always (3)
    Half of the time (2)
    Occasionally (1)
    Never (0)

    2. I have trouble following the conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time.

    Almost always...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    Can a hearing aid help me if I have problem with word discrimination?
    The main cause of difficulty with word discrimination is inner-ear hair cell or nerve degeneration. If your trouble understanding words is modest, a hearing aid may help to some degree, but it will not fully remedy the problem. You'll still need to use visual cues, such as lip reading, to help you...  Full Post
  • David Vernick
    David Vernick answered:
    What is a speech-discrimination test?
    Everyone has had this experience: someone is talking to you, and you can hear the words loudly but not clearly. The problem is especially common when you're trying to have a conversation in a noisy room. But with age, many people have this problem even in quiet settings. The words are loud, but they...  Full Post