ABOUT US

The Now Hear This! Fund is a managed by the University of Illinois Foundation on behalf of the Department of Otolaryngology and Division of Audiology, University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. Faculty advocates and representatives of the Fund include:
Dr. M. Redleaf

Dr. M. Redleaf
Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Director, Division of Otology/Neurotology,
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
University of Illinois at Chicago

Miriam Redleaf M.D. is a Professor of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose Throat) and the Director of Otology Hearing Services at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System , Department of Otolaryngology. Dr. Redleaf, is an expert in diseases of the ear and Board-certified otologist/ neurotologist. She also leads our vestibular program and Audiology Division. A patient-focused clinician with outstanding training, Dr. Redleaf is a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Redleaf specializes in medical and surgical problems of the ear and skull base, and works extensively with hearing impairment and pediatric cochlear implants. A Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology, she has received a "Certificate of Added Qualification" (CAQ) in otology/ neurotology has published numerous peer-reviewed articles.

Dr. Redleaf received her medical degree from University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She then completed her residency in Otolaryngology and her fellowship in Otology from the University of Iowa.
DrYu



Jeffrey Yu, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology
University of Illinois at Chicago

Jeffery Yu, MD is an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology (Ear Nose and Throat) and a member of the Otology Hearing Services at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, Department of Otolaryngology. Dr. Yu is an expert in diseases of the ear including the auditory and vestibular system. Dr. Yu specializes in medical and surgical problems of the external, middle, inner ear and skull base. He has a clinical interest in cochlear implantation and assistive listening devices.

Dr.Yu obtained his medical degree from Queen’s University School of Medicine in Kingston, Ontario, Canada and completed his residency in otolaryngology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He then went to Charlottesville, Virginia and completed a fellowship in Neurotology at the University of Virginia.
Deanna Kattah Matusik



Deanna Kattah Matusik, Au.D., CISC, CCC-A.
Co-Director of Audiology and the Cochlear Implant Program Coordinator
University of Illinois at Chicago

Deanna Kattah Matusik, AuD, CISC, CCC-A, is the Co-Director of Audiology and the Cochlear Implant Program Coordinator at UI Health. Dr. Matusik has been at UI Health since December 2010. She obtained her clinical doctorate in Audiology in 2009 from Northern Illinois University and completed a portion of her clinical externship year at UI Hospital in 2008. In October 2014, she obtained specialty board certification in cochlear implants through the American Board of Audiology. In addition to her extensive experience in cochlear implants, for both pediatric and adult patients, her interests and experience extend to diagnostics, tinnitus evaluations and management, hearing aid evaluations and fittings, and osseintegrated hearing implants. Her primary research interest involves aural (re)habilitation and its impact on post-cochlear implant progress.
Nichole Suss, Au.D., CCC-A



Nichole Suss, Au.D., CCC-A
Co-Director of Audiology
University of Illinois at Chicago

Dr. Suss is the Co-Director of Audiology. She has been at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System since August of 2005. Her clinical interests include pediatric and adult diagnostics, amplification, auditory evoked potentials, and osseointegrated hearing implants. Dr. Suss enjoys thinking of new ways to help our clinic adapt to the scientific and technological changes that challenge our field, as well as considering better ways to best serve our patients. In addition to clinical work, Dr. Suss enjoys presenting lectures on Audiology to various departments on campus and participating in research and community health events. Before joining our team, Dr. Suss worked as a pediatric audiologist at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri where she gained considerable experience working with children with special needs. Dr. Suss also oversees our Division's NICU Infant Hearing Screening Program and is also the Coordinator for the Lions of Illinois Foundation Hearing Aid Bank.

University of Florida, Doctor of Audiology, Au.D.; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Audiology, MA; Northern Illinois University, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, BS
Gabrielle R. Cager



Gabrielle R. Cager, Au.D., CCC-A
Division of Audiology
University of Illinois at Chicago

Dr. Cager joined the Division of Audiology at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Science Systems in 2005. She is a member of the cochlear implant team and has extensive pediatric experience. Dr. Cager’s clinical interests include audiological diagnostics and rehabilitation, as well as auditory implants (cochlear implants and osseointergrated implants), including experience with hearing aid evaluations and fittings. Through her 16 years of audiological experience, she also has extensive experience in auditory evoked potentials and auditory processing.

University of Florida, Doctor of Audiology, Au.D.; Louisiana State University, Audiology, M.A.; Xavier University, Audiology and Speech Pathology, B.S.
Rakhi Thambi, MD


Rakhi Thambi, MD
Medical Director of the ENT Clinic
University of Illinois at Chicago

Dr. Rakhi Thambi is a board-certified in General Otolaryngology. Her clinical work is extensive across adult and pediatric patients with specialties in general ENT, allergy, deviated septum, goiters, masses in the thyroid and neck, salivary gland tumors, sinus diseases, and sleep apnea/snoring. She is Medical Director of the ENT Clinic at the University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary and an Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

UIC Otology/Neurotology/Skull Base Surgery

The Otology/Neurotology/Skull Base Surgery Center provides comprehensive evaluation and state-of-the-art treatment for patients with disorders of hearing and balance. Our expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of diseases, including chronic infections of the ear, hearing loss from infancy through adulthood, disorders of dizziness and balance, and tumors of the cranial nerves and complex structures of the cranial base.

Audiology

The field of clinical Audiology emerged after WWII, when many veterans were returning with noise-induced hearing loss from constant exposure to artillery guns. The Audiology program at the University of Illinois Medical Center was developed in the late 1940s and as the clinical field began to grow, so did the program. Audiology became the specialty designated to identify and treat hearing loss in all ages. In 1983, the Division of Audiology was established at the University of Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary.

The UIC Audiology Division identifies and provides treatment for individuals with hearing loss and those considered at risk. The ability to hear significantly affects quality of life, regardless of age. The clinical goal is to not just improve hearing, but to enhance the communication skills of hearing-impaired individuals, their family members and their friends through comprehensive service offerings. The commitment of the hearing program at UIC is to focus on treating the problem, not only the symptoms of those suffering hearing problems.

The current services are comprehensive in nature, and our staff has significant experience in working with clinically and demographically diverse patients. Our service line has no known holes in its breadth of services:

  • Quantitative and qualitative audiological diagnostics and assessment (Audiometry, tympanometry, OAE (oto acoustic emissions), ABR (Auditory brain reflex)
  • Auditory implant program: diagnostics, monitoring, processor fitting, counseling
    • Cochlear Implants
    • BAHA (bone anchored hearing aids)
    • Auditory Brainstem Implants (ABI)
  • Hearing aid dispensing & follow-up
  • Custom ear mold fitting and dispersement (for ear phones, ear plugs)
  • Assisted listening device recommendation and sale (TV ears, FM communication systems, telephones)
  • Neonatal hearing assessment
  • Counseling on communication strategies