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Tinnitus is phantom noise perception. It is a sound that is heard without coming from the outside world. It can be a ring, buzz, hiss, hum, chirp, music or other sounds. It is experienced by at least 50 million Americans. Patients’ reactions to tinnitus range from a minor nuisance to a major disrupt...

Any time a new medical treatment arrives, researchers look for side effects. We are all familiar with the term. We may research side effects when we begin something new or feel ill. Many people substitute medications if they are feeling bad effects of their current regimen. The drug commercials remi...

Many people appear interested in the topic of ear wax. This is the mysterious substance that often lines or fills the ear canals leading to the ear drum. There are many misconceptions about wax in the canals and several safe methods for removing it. Questions naturally arise. What is this substance?...

It is no secret loud sounds damage hearing. We warn kids of the dangers of ear bud use. We see the effects in people who have spent years working in factories, serving in the military, playing in bands or using power tools. Noise exposed people are more likely than others to become hard of hearing....

The ear canal is a dark, warm, damp tunnel in the side of your head. Aside from channeling sound to your eardrum, it should be an ideal place to harvest tiny agents of infection. Bacteria, viruses, fungus, insects, etc. should thrive in such a place. However, we typically don’t have an ear infection...

It is not uncommon for a hearing center to see a patient complaining of difficulty hearing despite having normal test results. The man who cannot hear in a crowd may hear perfectly well in quiet. A couple complains of poor communication if one walks to an adjacent room. An older woman with a modest...

We are no doubt living in stressful times. The psychological stress due to a pandemic is undeniable. Our lives changed in many ways within several short weeks due to a novel virus. Meanwhile, we should not forget other conditions and diseases persist in the population. It is important not to neglect...

You may be aware that middle ear infections and middle ear fluid are common in young children. Many pediatrician visits result in treatment for otitis media. In children this presents as “glue ear” and may be accompanied by pain, fever and reduced hearing. The middle ear is the air space behind the...

Much has been made about the recent viral audio/video debate about a single word. Some people hear only “Laurel”, and some only “Yanni.” Some hear either, depending on what they are told they will hear, and some hear both on successive trials. What has caused this discrepancy between two seemingly u...

A tinnitus app People whose work and play put them at risk for ear damage often complain about difficulty hearing and ringing in the ears. Construction workers, machinists, contractors, musicians and others find themselves immersed in loud sounds as a matter of common practice. Add hobbies, such...