Midwest Ear Institute

What Midwest Ear Institute does

Midwest Ear Institute is a private, independent medical practice headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, founded in 1980, operating across four locations in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and Mooresville. The practice specializes in otology and neurotology, providing medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care for hearing loss, ear infections, tinnitus, chronic ear disease, vertigo, and balance disorders, while operating the first Balance Center in Indiana for vestibular diagnosis and treatment. Service breadth spans non-invasive diagnostics (hearing tests, VNG balance evaluations, ABR, ECoG, VEMP, Rotary Chair testing), office-based treatments (BPPV Canalith Repositioning, tinnitus retraining therapy, earwax removal), surgical procedures (cochlear implants, ear tubes, skull base surgery, cholesteatoma repair, acoustic neuroma treatment), and hearing aid dispensing across ReSound, Signia, and Phonak product lines.

The clinical team is anchored by Dr. Vincent B. Ostrowski, a fellowship-trained, sub-specialty certified otologist/neurotologist (one of five in Indiana), supported by a nurse practitioner, a director of audiology, and five additional audiologists/specialists. Technology is primarily standard audiometric and vestibular diagnostic equipment; no proprietary AI/ML or platform technology is disclosed. Patient acquisition combines direct-to-consumer scheduling (phone, online forms), top-of-funnel digital tools (free online hearing screener, educational blog), and inbound referrals from primary care and specialist physicians.

Revenue is generated through four streams: professional services for medical and surgical ENT care, audiology and hardware sales of hearing aids, specialized balance center diagnostics and treatment, and med spa services via the Luminé Aesthetics sub-brand (facials, Botox/Xeomin, microneedling, microdermabrasion, chemical peels). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue is generated per-procedure and per-device with insurance and self-pay variation. The practice is privately held with ownership concentrated with the managing physician and no disclosed institutional or PE/VC sponsorship.

Name

Midwest Ear Institute

Legal name

Midwest Ear Institute

Website

https://midwestear.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Midwest Ear Institute is a private Indianapolis ENT and audiology practice operating four Indiana locations, providing medical, surgical, and rehabilitative care for hearing loss, ear disorders, balance conditions, and audiologic dispensing, supplemented by a med spa sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Medical and Surgical ENT Services: Revenue from comprehensive ear, nose, and throat medical services including consultations, diagnostic testing, medical treatments, and surgical procedures for ear and hearing conditions
2. Audiology and Hearing Aid Services: Revenue from hearing evaluations, hearing aid sales, fitting, programming, and ongoing maintenance/repair services
3. Balance Center Services: Revenue from specialized vestibular and balance disorder diagnostics and treatment services
4. Med Spa Services (Luminé Aesthetics): Revenue from aesthetic services including skin care, Botox, Xeomin, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Midwest Ear Institute is a multi-location medical practice that diagnoses and treats ear, hearing, balance, and related disorders for patients of all ages. It provides medical, surgical, and rehabilitative services including hearing evaluations, hearing aid dispensing and fitting, vestibular/balance testing, cochlear implant evaluation and mapping, ear and skull base surgery, and tinnitus management. The practice also operates a Balance Center (first of its kind in Indiana) and a med spa sub-brand, Luminé Aesthetics.

Product overview

Midwest Ear Institute is a healthcare practice providing comprehensive ear, nose, throat, and audiology services through a multi-location Indiana network. The practice offers a unified portfolio of medical and surgical services including diagnostic testing (VNG Balance Evaluations, Hearing Tests, Balance Testing with ABR, VEMP, ECoG), treatment services (BPPV Treatment, Tinnitus Treatment, Hearing Aid Evaluation/Fitting/Repair), surgical services (Ear Tube Surgery, Cochlear Implant Evaluation, Skull Base Surgery, Cholesteatoma Treatment), and hearing technology products (ReSound, Signia, Phonak hearing aids, and hearing protection). The practice is led by fellowship-trained otology/neurotology specialists and supported by audiologists and nurse practitioners. Additional offerings include a Med Spa (Luminé Aesthetics) and digital patient tools including an online hearing screener and patient portal. The Balance Center at Midwest Ear Institute was the first of its kind in Indiana.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Luminé Aesthetics: A medical aesthetics practice offering skin care services including facials, Botox and Xeomin administration, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
• Balance Center at the Midwest Ear Institute

Products and services

• Hearing Tests Non-invasive hearing assessments that provide information about hearing loss severity and likely causes, typically completed within an hour-long appointment, for adult and pediatric patients.
• Balance Testing Comprehensive balance assessments including VNG, VEMP, ECoG, ABR, and Rotary Chair testing to evaluate inner ear, eyes, and brain balance mechanisms.
• VNG Balance Evaluations Videonystagmography testing to identify the root cause of vertigo, dizziness, and balance issues to enable creation of targeted treatment plans.
• Hearing Aid Evaluation Comprehensive evaluation to determine if hearing aids are needed and to recommend specific models based on test results, lifestyle needs, and budget.
• Hearing Aid Fitting & Programming Fine-tuning of hearing aid settings post-ordering to provide optimal support in areas where the patient needs assistance.
• Hearing Aid Repair & Maintenance Basic hearing aid repair and maintenance support including battery changes, hinge repairs, and manufacturer shipping assistance for intensive repairs.
• Cochlear Implant Evaluation & Mapping Evaluation for cochlear implantation and device mapping for individuals with hearing loss not adequately addressed by traditional hearing aids.
• BPPV Treatment Canalith Repositioning Procedure (CRP) for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, a non-surgical office procedure effective 90% of the time with immediate symptom improvement.
• Tinnitus Treatment Comprehensive tinnitus management including sound therapy, custom earmolds, tinnitus retraining therapy, hearing aids with tinnitus-masking features, and white noise machines.
• Ear Tube Surgery Outpatient surgical procedure placing small cylinders through the eardrums to reduce risk of future ear infections, the most common childhood surgery with anesthesia.
• Cholesteatoma Treatment Surgical evaluation and treatment of cholesteatoma, typically performed outpatient under anesthesia with follow-up appointments to verify healing.
• Perforated Eardrum Treatment Surgical treatment for eardrum ruptures that don't heal naturally within weeks, helping prevent complications like cholesteatoma.
• Skull Base Surgery Minimally invasive surgical treatment for growths, cysts, tumors, and abnormalities in the skull base area using imaging tests like MRIs and CT scans for diagnosis.
• Acoustic Neuroma Treatment Identification and treatment of acoustic neuromas through surgical tumor removal or stereotactic radiation therapy to stop tumor growth and potentially shrink it.
• Meniere's Disease Treatment Medical management of Meniere's disease including medications, lifestyle changes, injections, and endolymphatic sac-vein decompression surgery; medical treatment effective in decreasing frequency and severity of attacks in 80% of patients.
• Earwax Removal Professional removal of earwax blockages and obstructions to restore normal hearing system functioning.
• Labyrinthitis Treatment Treatment of labyrinthitis inflammation or infection with medications such as steroids, antivirals, or antibiotics to reduce dizziness severity and duration.
• Vestibular Neuritis Treatment Treatment for inner ear inflammation of the vestibular nerve caused by viral infection, including vestibular rehabilitation exercises and symptom management medications.
• Ear Infection Treatment Diagnosis and treatment of ear infections for adults and children, typically resolving on their own within 10-14 days.
• External Otitis (Swimmer's Ear) Treatment Treatment of swimmer's ear with ear canal cleaning and prescription eardrops to inhibit bacterial growth, resolving within 7-10 days.
• Vertigo Treatment Diagnosis and treatment of vertigo caused by inner ear issues through medication, non-invasive treatments, or minor surgery.
• ReSound Hearing Aids Hearing aids from the ReSound brand, one of the hearing technology brands offered and dispensed at Midwest Ear Institute.
• Signia Hearing Aids Hearing aids from the Signia brand, one of the hearing technology brands offered and dispensed at Midwest Ear Institute.
• Phonak Hearing Aids Hearing aids from the Phonak brand, one of the hearing technology brands offered and dispensed at Midwest Ear Institute.
• Hearing Protection Products Custom and non-custom hearing protection including musician earplugs, electronic earplugs, and in-ear monitors for musicians and concert-goers.
• Luminé Aesthetics Med Spa Services Medical spa services including skin care, facials, Botox and Xeomin administration, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels offered at the Indianapolis location.

Quantifiable outcome

• BPPV Canalith Repositioning Procedure effective 90% of the time with immediate symptom improvement
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Miracle-Ear: National retail hearing aid chain with audiology services; comparable on hearing aid dispensing and fitting but does not offer ENT medical or surgical services.
• New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai: Specialty hospital with a comprehensive otology/neurotology and audiology department; broader incumbent offering overlapping ear, hearing, and balance services but operating as a hospital-based program rather than an independent practice.
• Mayo Clinic Department of Otolaryngology: Academic multi-specialty otolaryngology program with extensive subspecialty otology/neurotology expertise and audiology services; broad incumbent competing for complex surgical referrals in the upper Midwest.
• Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center: Academic medical center housing a major otolaryngology, hearing, and balance program; broad incumbent providing directly overlapping clinical services with a much larger organizational footprint.
• HearUSA: Large national hearing care retailer offering hearing evaluations, hearing aid dispensing, and audiology services across many locations; broadly comparable on audiology/hearing aid service line though lacking surgical neurotology.

Direct peers

• Michigan Ear Institute: Fellowship-training site of Dr. Ostrowski; a dedicated otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery practice offering an almost identical specialty service mix to Midwest Ear Institute, including cochlear implants, balance/vestibular testing, and acoustic neuroma treatment.
• House Clinic (House Ear Clinic): Los Angeles-based neurotology and skull base surgery center with deep expertise in cochlear implantation, acoustic neuroma, and balance disorders; highly comparable on clinical scope and sub-specialty depth to Midwest Ear Institute.
• Pittsburgh Ear Associates: Specialty ENT practice focused on ear, hearing, and balance disorders with on-site audiology and vestibular testing; comparable mid-size regional specialty footprint.
• Ear, Nose & Throat Associates (ENTA): Large multi-site otolaryngology and audiology group practice in the Northeast US; comparable business model combining ENT physicians, audiologists, hearing aid dispensing, and balance services across multiple clinic locations.

Regional players

• Balance & Vestibular Center of Indiana: Regional specialty provider of vestibular diagnostics and balance therapy in Indiana; directly comparable to the Balance Center at Midwest Ear Institute on clinical focus and patient demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/midwestear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Midwest Ear Institute