House Ear Institute

Since 1946, the House Ear Institute has led the way in defining the causes of hearing and balance, disorders improving medical/surgical procedures, and prosthetic devices. The Institute's discoveries have helped millions of people receive successful treatments.

In 1969, William F. House, M.D.—brother of Howard—implanted the first three patients with the cochlear implant at House Ear Institute. Since then, the Los Angeles-based House Ear Institute has grown into the world's foremost private research institute for otology and hearing science[2].

House Ear Institute's historical advancements in hearing sciences include the development of the first cochlear implant and auditory brain stem implant as well as the introduction of the first the middle cranial fossa and then the translabyrinthine approach for removal of acoustic neuromas. The translabyrinthine approach uses the operating microscope and reduced mortality rates from 40% (in California) to less than 1%.

Today, scientists at House Ear Institute are exploring the molecular development of the ear, and the auditory centers of the brain.

House Ear Institute and its companion facility, House Ear Clinic[3], are affiliated with the University of Southern California School of Medicine and provide instruction in otology to the otolaryngology residents at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. To date, over 22,000 doctors have received training in their facilities.

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Staff

House Ear Institute's and House ear clinic's physician and clinical staff include:

Physicians

Derald E. Brackmann, M.D.

[4]
M.D., University of Illinois College of Medicine
Residency in Otolaryngology, LAC-USCMC
Clinical Fellowship in Neurotology
Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology and Neurosurgery, USC School of Medicine

Current Projects

• Co-Principal Investigator - Auditory Brainstem Implant
• Management of Neurofibromatosis Type II
• Management of Acoustic Neuromas
• Management of Skull Base Tumors

• Past president of: American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery; American Neurotology Society; American Otological Society and North American Skull Base Society
• Listed in book of Best Doctors in America
• Listed in Good Housekeeping Magazine -- Among the 400 Best Doctors in America

Antonio De La Cruz, M.D.

[5]
Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology, USC School of Medicine
Director of Education, House Ear Institute

Specialty in Otolaryngology at the University of Miami Hospitals

Current Projects

• Hearing Preservation in Acoustic Tumor Surgery
• Skull Base Tumors
• Otosclerosis/Stapedectomy
• Congenital Atresia

• Past President, American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
• Secretary General, Pan American Association of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
• Chairman, International Federation of Otolaryngology Societies Committee
• Honorary Member of the Otolaryngology Societies of India, The Philippines, Venezuela, Brazil, Costa Rica, Rio de Janeiro and Guadalajara
• Member of the Committee for Latin American Medicine, AAO-HSN
• Member of Instruction Course Advisory Committee, AAO-HSN
• Past President of the American Neurotology Society
• Past President of the Los Angeles Society of Otolaryngology
• Listed in Who is Who: Best Doctors of America
• Listed in "Best Doctors in Los Angeles" complied by Los Angeles Magazine

M. Jennifer Derebery, M.D.

[6]
MD, University of Texas, Medical Branch at Galveston
Residency in Otolaryngology, Oregon Health Sciences University
Clinical Fellowship in Otolaryngic Allergy

Current Projects

• Long-term outcome study on quality of life changes in patients undergoing allergy immunotherapy and dietary avoidance. 1997-present.
• Immunological laboratory parameters in patients with Meniere's disease
• Long-term outcome study on patients with Meniere's disease secondary to allergy being treated with allergy immunotherapy and/or dietary avoidance
• Principle investigator, double-blind study on treatment of auto-immune inner ear disease, Immunosuppression of Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease (NIH/NIDCD # 1 UO1 DC03209-0)

Jose N. Fayad, M.D.

[7]
Associate, House Clinic Clinical Fellowship Neurotology, House Clinic
Residency Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York
M.D. University Paul Sabatier, School of Medicine-Purpan, Toulouse, France

Research Interest

• Hearing preservation in acoustic tumor surgery
• Implantable Hearing Devices, BAHA (Bone anchored hearing aids)
  implants
• Cochlear Implants: Histopathology and Optimization of cochlear implant design
• Cholesteatoma molecular biology

Rick A. Friedman, M.D., PhD

[8]
M.D., PhD University of California San Diego
Residency in Otolaryngology, University of California San Diego

Current Projects

• Hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma treatment
• Comprehensive management of tumors of the skull base
• Principal Investigator on prevention of spinal fluid leaks after acoustic neuroma removal
• Principal Investigator on the genetics of hearing loss

• Listed in Who's Who of America for his contributions to his field.
• Member of the Scientific Review Committee of the Deafness Research Foundation

John W. House, M.D.

[9]
President, House Ear Institute
MD, University of Southern California School of Medicine

Residency in Otolaryngology, LAAC-USCMC
Clinical Fellowship in Neurotology

John W. House, MD is a native of California. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Southern California. While there he was an All American swimmer all four years and during his senior year was captain of the National Championship team.

John and his wife have 5 sons and 2 dogs. Besides his love for medicine and treating patients he enjoys skiing, swimming, hiking, bicycle riding, good food, traveling teaching and most important, family time. The facial nerve grading scale, a system, which he developed, is the accepted standard throughout the world. He has written more than 90 scientific articles, chapters and edited textbooks on otology.

Additional Information

• President, Research Study Club of Los Angeles
• President, Los Angeles Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• Past President, Pacific Coast Oto-Ophtalmological Society
• Audit Committee, American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• President, American Neurotology Society
• Chairman, Membership Committee, American Neurotology Society

William M. Luxford, M.D.

[10]
MD, University of Southern California School of Medicine
Residency in Otolaryngology, LAC-USCMC
Clinical Fellowship in Neurotology
Clinical Associate Professor of Otolaryngology, USC School of Medicine
Clinical Associate of Otolaryngology, UCI School of Medicine 


Marc S. Schwartz, M.D.

[11]
Board Certified in Neurological Surgery
MD, Harvard Medical School
Residency in Neurological Surgery, Brigham and Women's and Children's Hospitals, Boston

Clinical Interests

• Treatment of acoustic neuromas
• Treatment of skull base tumors including meningiomas and schwannomas
• Treatment of cranial nerve pathology including trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm
• Neurosurgical management of Neurofibromatosis Type 2
• Gamma Knife Radiosurgery

William H. Slattery, M.D.

[12]
MD, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Residency in Otolaryngology, University of Florida Medical Center
Clinical Fellowship in Neurotology
Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology USC School of Medicine


Current Projects

• Treatment and Management of Neurofibromatosis Type II
• Treatment of Acoustic Neuromas
• Implantable Hearing Aids
• Facial Nerve Paralysis

Audiologists

• Allen Senne, AuD

Allen Senne is currently the Director of Audiology at the House Ear Clinic[13]. He first joined the House Clinic as a senior staff audiologist in 1988 after completing his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Audiology at San Diego State University. He was promoted to Co-Director of audiology in 1991 and served in that capacity until 1998. He returned to professional studies at the University of Florida and obtained his Doctor of Audiology degree (Au.D.) in 2000. During this time, and for the next several years, he was employed in a privately owned audiology and hearing aid dispensing practice. Dr. Senne returned to the House Clinic in November 2004 to serve as Director of Audiology.