Ears/Hearing
Latest articles on Ears/Hearing
The vestibular system sends information about head position and movement to the brain; visual and sensory systems send the brain information about balance and position. All these systems have to work together.
"It's so important - for older adults, especially - to strengthen their balance system through physical activity," says David R. Friedland, MD, PhD. "It can prevent falls and make them feel safer and more confident. And that preserves their independence."
"The presenting signs of otitis media are rapid or acute onset of difficulty which includes fever, pain and irritability," says Joseph E. Kerschner, MD, FACS, FAAP. Treatment depends on the cause of the ear infection - either viral or bacterial.
"Complaints of dizziness are very common, but the causes vary greatly," notes David R. Friedland, MD, PhD. After a thorough history, a series of tests can help doctors determine the source of the problem.
"Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom typically associated with nerve damage to the inner ear," says neuro-otologist David R. Friedland, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
An acoustic neuroma is a rare, benign, and usually slow-growing tumor. In the past few years, technological advances have significantly improved early diagnosis and expanded treatment options, says P. Ashley Wackym, MD.
"The Prevnar vaccine is expected to prevent 88% of cases of bacteremia, 82% of cases of meningitis, and 71% of cases of otitis media episodes in the United States in children under six years of age," reports Dr. Peter Havens.
What if you want to drive but become ill whenever you enter a car, ship or plane? In this case, antihistamines aren't the answer. Dr. Julie Mitchell advises.
People with severe cases of tinnitus – ringing, roaring, buzzing or clicking sounds in their ears – can find it difficult to hear, work, or even sleep. There is no definitive cure, but scientists and doctors have found several treatments that may give some relief.
In the future, stem cells might be used to help manage hearing problems in the elderly, but for now hearing aids remain our primary treatment option.
Tinnitus, or ear ringing, is a vexing problem that affects 25 million to 30 million people in the United States. Although no single therapy works for everyone, a variety of treatments have been successful.
Intravenous lidocaine has been known for decades to suppress tinnitus, but the relief is unfortunately temporary and impractical since it has to be injected into a vein.
A new electromagnetic hearing system eliminates the pressure buildup, feedback, distortion and squealing common with standard hearing aids.
Abrupt onset of facial paralysis on one side of the face, usually from infection by the herpes simplex virus, is called Bell's palsy. Most people will recover within three weeks, but ongoing symptoms should be evaluated.
Meniere's Disease is a disorder caused by increased fluid pressure in the inner ear. It can result in severe dizziness, hearing loss and ringing in the ear.
Otitis externa is a potentially serious ear inflammation that can usually be treated very successfully with topical antibiotics.
People with hyperacusis are a small, very rare group of "sound sensitive" individuals.
Noise induced hearing loss is the most common irreversible occupational hazard in the world. More than 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis at work, in the home and during leisure activities.
An earache or ear infection (otitis media) is usually a complication of an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold.
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