Ears Overview
Our ears are the gateway to speech, music and the sounds of nature but they also bring damaging noise into our lives and can cause us pain and problems. Hearing loss increases with age and is caused from everyday things like lawn mowers, road construction, and even loud TV or radio broadcasts — all as the various parts of the ear become less responsive. Further, ear infections that inflame the middle ear because of bacteria from fluid build-up behind the eardrum can not only be painful but also present other complications. One of the other areas ear specialists treat every day is dizziness, which can be caused by a number of different reasons. Our clinic is dedicated to helping you find the exact problem you have and then crafting a solution.
The research at the government-funded National Institutes of Health and other public-private and university programs is constantly yielding new insight into these age-old problems. New technology and tools are also always in development. Our commitment to you is to keep you in-the-know about the latest developments in all of the ear-related health areas.
Once you feel you've learned what you can here, our specialists would love to meet with you and listen to your unique symptoms. We've made it as easy as clicking on one of the options to the right and you'll be starting on the road to better health and happiness.
Hearing Loss
When hearing loss goes untreated, it can lead to feelings of detachment. Day-to-day conversations can prove difficult, causing you to withdraw from people and activities. The sense of isolation can be frightening, depressing and lonely. It can make you feel helpless, frustrated, resentful and angry.
You are not alone. Approximately 36 million American adults suffer from hearing loss. Of those, only 1 out of 5 who could benefit from use of hearing devices actually use them.
The first step to reconnecting to the world around you is visiting your hearing care provider. Our professionals have the technical expertise and years of experience required to correctly assess the cause of any hearing problems and recommend the appropriate course of action. We also have staff physicians whom we partner with to diagnose and treat any medical issues that may be present.
This booklet serves as a guide to help you better understand the mechanics of hearing as well as exciting new advancements in hearing solutions.
>> Tips to maintain hearing health
- If you work in noisy places or commute to work in noisy traffic or construction, choose quiet leisure activities instead of noisy ones.
- Develop the habit of wearing earplugs when you know you will be exposed to noise for a long time.
- Earplugs can reduce the volume of sound reaching the ear to a safer level.
- Try not to use several noisy machines at the same time.
- Try to keep television sets, stereos and headsets low in volume.
>> What can I do to improve my hearing?
- Eliminate or lower unnecessary noises around you.
- Let friends and family know about your hearing loss and ask them to speak slowly and more clearly.
- Ask people to face you when they are speaking to you, so you can watch their faces and see their expressions.
- Utilize sound amplifying devices on phones.
- Use personal listening systems to reduce background noise.
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids have helped countless patients around the world improve their ability to understand conversations and enjoy the integral sense of sound. People can suddenly or slowly lose their hearing due to a variety of reasons. Regardless the cause, hearing aids are almost always a good option.
PROCESS
LIFESTYLES
PROFILE
DEVICE TYPES
EAR ANATOMY
Using Hearing Technology to Improve Your Life
How do you know you're getting the solution that's perfect for you? Our 4-step process ensures you will receive the solution that will best meet your needs. Our unique approach sets us apart from others because to us, it's not about dispensing products – it's about reconnecting you to your world.
The Art & Science of Hearing Solutions
The hearing care industry is full of options, promising better technology, lower costs or greater capabilities. However, what is the point of having the most advanced technology if that technology doesn’t improve your hearing lifestyle?
We believe it’s not only about having the latest technology solutions, it’s about how the correct technology is applied by the best hearing care professionals to deliver you the precise solution for your hearing needs. We understand how critical it is that your hearing solution is custom tailored to fit your lifestyle.
The "Science" references the specific technology and rehabilitation techniques provided by your hearing care professional. It is the combination of our provider's "Art" and today's latest technology that will give you the best value for your investment.
Choosing the ideal technology for your hearing lifestyle
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Private MINIMAL BACKGROUND NOISE |
Quiet OCCASIONAL BACKGROUND NOISE |
Active MODERATE BACKGROUND NOISE |
Dynamic FREQUENT BACKGROUND NOISE |
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Activities of a Private
Lifestyle Include • Quiet Conversation • Door Bell • Phone Ringing • Alarms (Clock, Security, Timers, etc.) |
Activities of a Quiet
Lifestyle Include • Home Telephone • Driving • Religious Services • Adult Conversations • Small Family Gatherings • Quiet Restaurants |
Activities of an Active
Lifestyle Include • Cell Phone • Shopping • Movie Theaters • Health Clubs • Small Group Meetings • Conversations with Children • Television • Open/Reverberant Home • iPod®/Personal Music Players |
Activities of a Dynamic
Lifestyle Include • Outdoor Activities • Entertainment Venues (Casinos, Exhibit Halls, etc.) • Busy Restaurants • Frequent Social Gatherings • Bluetooth® Cell Phones • Conference Calls • Multimedia Connectivity (Home Theater, Computer, Phone, etc.) • Travel & Airports • Concerts & Arts • Group Presentations |
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A private lifestyle needs ECONOMY TECHNOLOGY |
A quiet lifestyle needs BASIC TECHNOLOGY |
An active lifestyle needs ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY |
A dynamic lifestyle needs PREMIUM TECHNOLOGY |
| Designed for very calm lifestyles, economy technology provides appropriate performance for communication in mostly quiet, less demanding listening situations where background noise is minimal. Ideal for those with a private, tranquil hearing lifestyle. | Designed for someone who is social and around environments with minimal to moderate background noise. Ideal for those who prefer to mostly relax at home with occasional social outings where less annoying background noise is present. Basic technology can adequately handle a quieter hearing lifestyle. | Designed for active lifestyles to provide excellent flexibility and performance in a variety of listening environments. Advanced technology is perfectly suited for those who enjoy many activities in less crowded environments with only moderate levels of background noise. | Designed for dynamic lifestyles, providing optimum flexibility and performance in a broad range of demanding listening environments. From attending meetings and social events to relaxing and reading a book, premium technology is designed for use in a much wider variety of listening environments, including those with higher levels of background noise. |
Hearing Device Styles to Fit Your Needs
| RECEIVER-IN-THE-EAR (RITE)/OPEN-FIT OR OVER-THE-EAR (OTE) HEARING INSTRUMENTS | COMPLETELY-IN-THE-CANAL INSTRUMENTS (CIC) | IN-THE-CANAL INSTRUMENTS (ITC) | BEHIND-THE-EAR INSTRUMENTS (BTE) | 100% INVISIBLE/INVISIBLE-IN-THE-CANAL (IIC) INSTRUMENTS |
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| This style of hearing device is the most popular today due to their inconspicuous nature and excellent sound quality. The receiver is built into a soft open dome and placed inside the ear canal with thin electrical wires replacing the acoustic tube of conventional BTEs. | CIC hearing instruments are custom-made to fit deep within the ear canal and are nearly invisible. However, they are not suitable for those who have severe hearing loss or who would have difficulty handling a tiny battery. | ITE hearing instruments fit in the bowl of the outer ear (concha) and are custom-fit for the individual. Usually visible when facing another person, ITEs can accommodate larger sound amplifiers and offer more features. Their size makes them easier to handle and allows the use of a longer lasting battery. | In general, BTEs are more powerful than smaller hearing devices due to the stronger amplifier and larger battery. In BTE instruments the electronics sit behind the ear and the sound is directed through a tube into the ear canal. BTEs are also offered in a miniature size. | This style of hearing technology fits deep inside the ear canal, allowing them to be 100% invisible. They are best suited for those with good dexterity and mild to moderately severe hearing loss, however, this style does not fit all sizes and shapes of ear canals. |
The Mechanics and Binaural Hearing
Your auditory system was designed to perceive sound with both ears. When both ears are functioning properly, individuals experience an additive effect where the combined perception is greater than 1+1. This is why the use of two hearing devices can provide a much greater benefit. With a binaural (two devices) hearing system, you can expect: Greater ability to locate the source of sound, Improvement in ability to understand speech in noisy environments and Better volume and more natural hearing
| The outer ear and concha collect sound waves and direct them into the external auditory canal. | The ear canal carries sound waves to the tympanic membrane, often referred to as the eardrum, causing the eardrum to vibrate. | The bones in the middle ear (malleus, incus, and stapes) receive the vibrations from the eardrum. | The bones in the middle ear amplify the vibrations and transmit them to the inner ear. | Vibrations pass through the oval window, setting the fluid inside the cochlea in motion. Special nerve hair cells within the cochlea then turn the sound into electrical impulses. | The auditory nerve sends these electrical impulses to the brain’s central auditory cortex, where they are processed as sound. |
Ear Infection
An ear infection is never something we want to deal with. However, it's important to realize the symptoms of this common condition and available treatment options.
Symptoms & Causes
You might have an infection if you're suffering an earache, difficulty or muffled hearing, high temperature or a liquid/puss draining from the ear. It's important to consult your primary care doctor and an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor immediately if you are suffering severely from these symptoms. This condition is usually caused by a build-up of liquid in the ear because of an inflamed drainage tube.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Your doctor might recommend one of several different options depending on the severity of your pain and progression of the infection. Mild cases can heal on their own without the need for a treatment solution such as antibiotics. The use of a warm compress and gargling with salt water are other low-cost remedies your doctor might consider. Conversely your physician might prescribe an over-the-counter ear-drop pain reliever or consider the use of antibiotics.
Prevention
The best treatment is prevention. The cause can be bacterial or viral infections so try to avoid germs as much as possible. Wash your hands frequently, keep your immune system healthy by getting sleep and drinking less alcohol, avoid secondhand smoke, stay current on immunizations and be careful not to overuse antibiotics as they can increase bacterial resistance.
Further Reading
National Institutes of Health
Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's Ear is a common condition that can affect those who swim often or anyone with open exposure to high levels of water, sand, dust or dirt. The condition, which is called otitis externa, is a fungal or bacterial infection of the outer ear canal that many refer to as an earache.
Symptoms & Causes
You might be suffering from this condition if you're experiencing fever, difficulty hearing or itchiness near the ear, sharp pain in your neck, face or head, a full ear, or redness and swelling near the ear. You should contact your doctor as soon as possible at the sign of these symptoms.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Your doctor may look inside your ear canal to determine how badly your infection has progressed. The physician may then examine any discharged pus or fluid to determine whether the infection is fungal or bacterial. Your doctor could recommend antibiotic ear drops for up to two weeks. Vinegar ear drops might also be an option. A thorough in-office cleaning might also be required to make sure the drops can reach the infected area. Other treatments might include antibiotic prescription pills or pain killers like Tylenol or Advil. During your treatment your doctor might advise avoiding swimming or scuba diving, flying, wearing earplugs, hearing aids or headphones.
Prevention
Prevention is always the first and best line of defense. Use shower caps while swimming or bathing or dry your outer ears thoroughly afterwards using a soft towel. Using a blow-dryer from at least a foot away is another option. After swimming also try a homemade ear drop mixture of half white vinegar and half rubbing alcohol to keep the canal dry and at the right acidity level.
Further Reading
Mayo Clinic
Dizziness
Feeling dizzy and lightheaded can be an unsettling feeling but it’s common and treatable. It's important to remember that dizziness and vertigo are two separate conditions often confused. Dizziness is more of a general faintness while vertigo is the sensation of the environment around you spinning. Both are usually not indicators of a major condition or illness.
Symptoms & Causes
There are many symptoms that can be related to dizziness such as weakness, confusion, dry mouth, pain in your chest, eyes, or head, tiredness, and lack of balance. The symptoms of vertigo are similar but the sensation is more akin to stepping off a merry-go-round after spinning for a while. See a doctor as soon as possible at the first signs of dizziness or vertigo as they might be a sign of a serious heart condition or other health problem.
Diagnosis & Treatment
The response your doctor takes will depend on the situation in which you experienced the symptoms and your particular health history. Your physician may ask you a few questions, give you a physical exam and take your vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. In some cases the doctor may want to look at the make-up of your blood to see if your dizziness is a sign of a larger condition. If your condition is severe due to dehydration or shortness of breath you may be given oxygen or IV fluids. Long term treatment of your condition will depend on the root cause of your symptoms.
Prevention
Some tips to keep in mind if you are worried about dizziness or vertigo. Remove any tripping hazards and use non-slip mats in the bathroom. If you feel dizzy sit down right away. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine and tobacco are also good prevention tips. Make sure to stand up slowly after lying down for a while.
Further Reading
WebMD
Ringing in Ear (Tinnitus)
Nothing can be more frustrating and sometimes painful than ringing in your ear. You might see it referred to at tinnitus, but no matter what it's called you just want it to stop.
Symptoms & Causes
Tinnitus is often characterized as a ringing, buzzing or swooshing sound that only the patient can hear. You might have these symptoms because a wide variety of problems. Muscle movements and blood flow are two big culprits along with your eardrum. A buildup of ear wax, stress, loud noises, a recent injury, dental problems, ear infections and a rapid change in elevation can be potential causes. See your specialty doctor for this condition if your symptoms persist.
Diagnosis & Treatment
When you see your doctor she or he will want to interview you about your symptoms and examine the ear to find the cause. You might be given a hearing loss test, CT scan, MRI scan or auditory brain stem response analysis. Depending on your specific diagnosis and condition your doctor could give you a prescription to help with the symptoms and solve the root problem, or prescribe home treatment. These options are behavioral and lifestyle changes such as less alcohol, smoking and loud environments. Regular exercise might also help increase blood flow to your ears, and help you recover more quickly.
Prevention
Preventing tinnitus is the best step. If you are worried about the symptoms associated with ringing in the ear then follow some simple steps. Protect your hearing: while at work make sure environmental noises are shield. At home don't listen to the television of stereo too loudly. Another helpful suggestion is to avoid using Q-Tips as they can put unnecessary pressure on the sensitive organs of your hearing.
Further Reading
WebMD
