Ear, Nose and Throat Health

When using an MP3 player, the recommendation is to keep the volume at one half the scale, or less. Specifically, on an I-Pod device, I counsel my patients and family members to keep the volume no more than half... continue reading  about  I use ear buds with my MP3 player and wondered what volume of sound is safe. Can loud music cause hearing loss?

You might want your primary physician to refer you to an Ear Nose and Throat doctor. Some ear canals can have “pockets” that are not noticeable by looking in the ear canal with a standard otoscope, ... continue reading  about  For the past three months, I've had a constant and irritating tickle in my inner ear. It even wakes me up at night. I've used ear rinses and had my primary care doctor examine it, but she could not find anything. Any suggestions?

The loss or diminishment of the senses of smell and/or taste are common with sinus infection problems. Tissues inside the nose become swollen and secretions are increased, both which alter airflow through the n... continue reading  about  I have been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis and have lost my sense of smell and taste. Prednisone has helped but I refuse to take it on an ongoing basis since I also have osteoporosis. I can't take NSAIDS with a history of gastric ulcer. Any suggestions?

One of two problems is going on here. Either you have ear wax blocking your ear canal (a condition called cerumen impaction), or your allergies won't permit your ears to "pop", meaning that your eustachian tube... continue reading  about  I have spring allergies and this year I have a plugged left ear, which I'm attributing to this. I've been using the over-the-counter ear wax remedies which have been working somewhat, usually for a day or two, and then my ear becomes plugged again.

It sounds as though you have done all of the 'self-help' measures you can. I would recommending discussing with your primary care physician or seeking an otolaryngology referral to try other medications that ar... continue reading  about  I've been plugged up for months with allergies. I've used decongestants, antihistamines, and sinus rinses but nothing seems to help. Any advice?

Meniere's disease or syndrome is named after a French physician who first described the disorder in 1861. It is not a disease in that it cannot spread to another person. It is a syndrome of three symptoms chara... continue reading  about  I have been diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. I have always had ringing in my left ear. Recently I have noted a thumping sound in my left ear. Is this another symptom of Meniere's Disease?

Headaches after climax have been described over the years and are felt related to changes in the size of blood vessels after sex. Vertigo is more unusual and might suggest a problem with the inner ear system; a... continue reading  about  For the first time in my life I experience vertigo after climaxing. Why is that?

A couple of possible answers come to mind. First, there is a large source of blood flow in your head close to the bottom of your ear canal. The carotid artery is large and can sometimes produce a pounding or he... continue reading  about  What would cause a muffled thumping sound in my left ear (almost like hearing a heart beat)? This sound is not in the right ear, only the left. It doesn't happen all the time and there is no hearing loss.

There are many brands of hearing aids and some are clearly more advanced than others. Without seeing your hearing test and taking a thorough history of your listening needs, it is hard to say what would work th... continue reading  about  I have moderate hearing loss in both ears. I've been fitted with behind the ear hearing aids at three centers with no real improvement in discerning speech (ambient noise comes through loud and clear). Which are best to help me hear normal conversations?