Ear Problems
Ear Problems
A total inability to hear is fortunately very rare. Occasionally children are born with a profound or complete hearing loss, sometimes in adulthood one acquires hearing loss, usually only in one ear but there are many causes of partial hearing loss or commonly there is a gradually progressive loss as seen in old age. Hearing loss is described as conductive when there is an inability of the sound waves in the air to reach the nerves of hearing (the cochlea). This type of hearing may be treated with an operation. The other type of deafness is sensorineural hearing loss where there is a failure of the nerves or part of the brain. This is not usually treated by surgery (with the exception of a cochlea implant in selected cases). It may be treated with a hearing aid. Let us consider hearing loss in terms of three age groups.
The lifetime prevalence of disorders of balance/dizziness is conservatively estimated at 2.4%. What can be difficult for both a patient and his or her…
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that provides sound perception to patients with severe to profound sensorineural (nerve) hearing loss in bo…
Your child with a hearing loss can succeed - in school, in work, and in life! It is important to keep this as your focus, whatever your child's age or…
Glue ear is a condition where the middle ear fills with glue-like fluid instead of air. This causes dulled hearing. It clears by itself in most cases.…
Otitis externa is an inflammation of the ear canal. The inflammation may be caused by infection, allergy, or other causes. Treatment with ear drops is…
Not at all. Tinnitus is the name for these head noises, and they are very common. Nearly 36 million Americans suffer from this discomfort. Tinnitus ma…
If you already have an ear infection, or if you have ever had a perforated or otherwise injured eardrum, or ear surgery, you should consult an ear, no…
A perforated eardrum is a hole or rupture in the eardrum, a thin membrane that separates the ear canal and the middle ear. The medical term for eardru…
Noise & Hearing Protection : One in 10 Americans has a hearing loss that affects his or her ability to understand normal speech. Excessive noise expo…
Infant Hearing Loss :Hearing loss can be temporary, caused by ear wax or middle ear infections. Many children with temporary hearing loss can have the…
Earwax : Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear! Cotton swabs are for cleaning bellybuttons, not ears. You have probably heard these a…
Ears and Altitude : Have you ever wondered why your ears pop when you fly on an airplane? Or why, when they fail to pop, you get an earache? Have you…
Ear Plastic Surgery :Protruding and drooping ears or torn earlobes can be surgically corrected. Exceptionally large ears or those that stick out make…
Ear Infections and Earache : Otitis media means inflammation of the middle ear. The inflammation occurs as a result of a middle ear infection. It can…
Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are most commonly caused by a viral infection that affects the inner ear. These conditions typically cause verti…
Presbyacusis, Hearing Loss of Older People Most people over the age of 60 develop some hearing loss. The severity can vary greatly from person to per…
A small boil (furuncle) that occurs in the ear canal can be very painful. It usually clears without treatment, but painkillers and antibiotics are som…
Chronic (Persistent) Otitis Externa : Otitis externa usually clear within a week or so. Sometimes it persists. This leaflet lists possible causes and…
Ménière's disease is a condition of the inner ear. About 1 in a 1000 people develop Ménière's disease. It can affect anyone at any age, but it most co…
Glue ear is a condition where the middle ear fills with glue-like fluid instead of air. This causes dulled hearing. In most cases it clears by itself…
Painful Ears When Flying : Some people develop ear pain when descending to land during a plane journey. It is caused by unequal pressures that develop…
Dizziness : Dizziness is a word that is used to mean different things. For example, some people say that they are 'dizzy' when they have vertigo, or b…
Barotrauma of the ear is when the eardrum becomes stretched and tense. It causes ear pain and dulled hearing. It is due to unequal pressures that deve…
Benign paroxysmal position vertigo causes short episodes of vertigo (intense dizziness) when you move your head in certain directions. It it thought t…
Bell's palsy is a weakness of the facial muscles. It develops suddenly, usually on one side of the face. The cause is not clear but most cases are pro…