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Ear HealthDr. Shelley Jaquish and Dr. Timothy Dunlevy medically and surgically treat a variety of ear problems. Ear PainEar pain is a common complaint and can result from infections or fluid on the ear, or blocked Eustachian tubes. Middle ear infections (otitis media) are especially common in children: Up to 70% of children will develop an ear infection during their first 3 years of life. Other common causes of ear pain can include swimmer's ear (otitis externa), earwax buildup and TMJ (temporomandibular joint problems) or jaw problems. Middle Ear InfectionMiddle ear infections (otitis media) result from a buildup of fluid in the middle ear that gets infected. Colds or allergies are almost always to blame for Eustachian tube congestion and fluid buildup. In severe cases, the eardrum can rupture and a yellowish or blood-tinged fluid drains out the ear canal. When infants or young children tug at their ears, act irritable or have a fever after a cold, suspect an ear infection and seek medical attention. If your child has frequent ear infections, our ENT specialist may recommend ear tubes to drain fluids from the ears to prevent persistent hearing loss. Related Resources
Ear Drum Perforation (or rupture)An eardrum perforation usually results from infection or trauma. Perforations due to chronic infection may not heal and can be associated with some degree of hearing loss. Surgical repair of the ear drum (tympanoplasty) and at times, the mastoid bone around the ear (tympanomastoidectomy) may be necessary. Related Resources:
Swimmer's EarSwimmer's ear (otitis externa) is an infection of the skin in the ear canal and is often caused by water trapped in the canal. The symptoms are an itchy feeling, redness of the outer ear, extreme pain, and pus-like drainage from the ear. Related Resources:
Earwax BuildupEarwax protects your ears, but sometimes it becomes impacted and makes the ear feel plugged. Symptoms are partial hearing loss, earache, buzzing or ringing or other noise in the ear, a feeling that the ear is plugged. Related Resources: Dizziness and VertigoDizzinessis lightheadedness, feeling like you might faint, being unsteady, loss of balance (disequilibrium), or vertigo (a feeling that you or the room is spinning or moving). The most common causes of vertigo are benign positional vertigo and labyrinthitis. Benign positional vertigo is vertigo that happens when you change the position of your head. Labyrinthitis usually follows a cold or flu and is caused by a viral infection of the inner ear. Meniere's disease is another common inner ear problem. It causes vertigo, loss of balance, and ringing in the ears. Consult our ENT physicians as soon as possible. TinnitusTinnitus is the medical term for "hearing" noises in your ears when there is no outside source of the sounds. The noises you hear can be soft or loud. They may sound like ringing, blowing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, or sizzling. You may even think you are hearing air escaping, water running, the inside of a seashell, or musical notes. Related Resources: Eustachian Tube Dysfunction / Ear Stuffiness / “Airplane Ears”The pilot says, "We will now begin our descent," but sound is muffled and there's a painful, uncomfortable feeling in your ears. You have barotitis, commonly called "airplane ears" -- yawning or swallowing helps. While airplane ears usually only cause temporary discomfort, if you fly while congested from a cold or allergies, airplane ears may cause fluid to accumulate in your and cause an infection or even an ear drum perforation. Related Resources:
Cosmetic/Reconstructive Surgery Of The Ears (Otoplasty)Are you concerned about “the look” of your or your child’s ears? Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the external ear is often performed to repair cosmetic or defects resulting from injury. The most common procedure is otoplasty, which is done to correct prominent ("dumbo") ears in children. The goal of this type of surgery is to improve both the functional and cosmetic appearance of the ears. Frequently, psychological trauma is associated with such features. Related Resources:
Hearing LossOur Ph.D. Audiologist provides diagnostic testing and treatment for patients experiencing hearing loss, offering an extensive selection of custom-fit and open-fit digital hearing aids with a 25-day trial period, and repair services. We also offer Hearing Protection & Musicians Earplugs, Hearing Aid Batteries, and a variety of Assistive Listening Devices. Related Resources:
DIVING RELATED MEDICAL ISSUESDiving problems -- those related to ear, nose and throat conditions -- are the most common and probably account for more time away from diving: sinus congestion, equalizing ears and sinuses, eardrum rupture, tinnitus, hearing loss, deafness, and more. Related Resources:
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The information contained in this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the evaluation or treatment by an ENT specialist.