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Protect Your Ears and Hearing
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Get expert advice for managing your tinnitus and the related stress.

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Ask an Expert
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I have diabetes and I read recently that people with this disease have a higher risk of hearing problems. Why would this be, and is there anything I can do to prevent it?
It is true that diabetes can cause hearing loss in cases that are more severe. Not everyone will get hearing loss with diabetes, and it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow your physician's r... continue reading about I have diabetes and I read recently that people with this disease have a higher risk of hearing problems. Why would this be, and is there anything I can do to prevent it?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I use ear buds with my MP3 player and wondered what volume of sound is safe. Can loud music cause hearing loss?
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?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
Is hearing loss inevitable as we age? Is there anything we can do to prevent it?
Hearing loss is not always inevitable for everyone. There are many factors that contribute to hearing loss and aging. The most common is noise exposure over many years. Noise exposure can be as slight as workin... continue reading about Is hearing loss inevitable as we age? Is there anything we can do to prevent it?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
It's hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once. I'm a 48-year-old woman who has had no hearing problems in the past. Should I be concerned?
Hearing loss is often the main culprit with concerns about communication difficulties. Communication is the ability to hear, listen and respond to others appropriately. In order to hear, the auditory system (ou... continue reading about It's hard for me to follow a conversation when two or more people talk at once. I'm a 48-year-old woman who has had no hearing problems in the past. Should I be concerned?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
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?
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?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
My 7-year-old son gets nosebleeds often. What causes them and can they be prevented?
Generally nose bleeds occur because the small blood vessels are shallow within the tissues of the nose. This is normal, but the constantly wetting then drying of the nose can cause the nasal tissue to crack (si... continue reading about My 7-year-old son gets nosebleeds often. What causes them and can they be prevented?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I have a seasonal reoccurring rash. Can this be related to allergies?
Usually when someone has a “seasonal” allergy, it means springtime symptoms caused by pollen. Although pollen allergy certainly can cause nasal, eye or asthma symptoms, it rarely would cause a rash ... continue reading about I have a seasonal reoccurring rash. Can this be related to allergies?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I take ibuprofen daily for back problems, but I read recently that sometimes it can cause hearing loss. Is this true, and how much would you need to take to cause this to happen?
I read several studies that seem to link increased risk of hearing loss to use of NSAIDS (ibuprofen is an NSAID). It is important to understand that there is an increase RISK of hearing loss in both women and m... continue reading about I take ibuprofen daily for back problems, but I read recently that sometimes it can cause hearing loss. Is this true, and how much would you need to take to cause this to happen?
Catherine A. Madison, M.D.
California Pacific Medical Center
For the first time in my life I experience vertigo after climaxing. Why is that?
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?