Ent and Allergy Specialists

  Cerumen or earwax is healthy in normal amounts and serves as a self-cleaning agent with protective, lubricating, and antibacterial properties. The absence of earwax may result in dry, itchy ears. Most of the time the ear canals are self-cleaning; that is, there is a slow and orderly migration of earwax and skin cells from the eardrum to the ear opening. Old earwax is constantly being transported, assisted by chewing and jaw motion, from the ear canal to the ear opening where it usually dries, flakes, and falls out. When should the ears be cleaned? Under ideal circumstances, the ear canals should never have to be cleaned. However, that isn’t always the case. The ears should be cleaned when enough earwax accumulates to cause symptoms or to prevent a needed assessment of the ear by your doctor. This condition is call cerumen impaction, and may cause one or more of the following symptoms: Earache, fullness in the ear, or a sensation the ear is plugged Partial hearing loss, which may ...

During the Summer evening of the Fourth of July, you’re most likely going to see fireworks in the sky. Whether you are watching professional fireworks or have purchased your own fireworks, hearing loss is a real risk to yourself and those around you. Babies should never be exposed to fireworks. An infant’s ear canal is much smaller than older children or adults. Therefore, the sound pressure roaring into the ear is much greater. To an infant, a sound that is not that loud to an adult may be 20 decibels louder to an infant. How to Protect Your Hearing Keep Distance from You and the Fireworks. Skip home displays and watch professional displays from a distance Bring earplugs, earmuffs and/or noise cancelling headphones Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) One of the top ways Americans lose their hearing is from noise induced activities. This may be a result from one’s occupation that include construction, airport attendant, nightclub worker, or even a racecar driver. This may cause tinnitus...

  What is more annoying that a constant ringing sound in your ear? It will drive you nuts! Humming, swishing, clicking, or echoing sounds in your ears usually, points to one thing – tinnitus. The most common reason of tinnitus is prolonged exposure to loud sounds, which causes permanent harm to the cells of the cochlea, a small organ in the inner ear. Among those whose jobs put them at risk for tinnitus are pilots, rock musicians, carpenters, street repair workers, and/orlandscapers. While tinnitus itself isn’t an illness, it is a symptom of other conditions, including: Ear infections Hearing loss Wax accumulation in the ear caused by an ear infection, or in rare cases, a benign tumor of the auditory nerve Aging, where the cochlea depreciates over time Exposure to loud noise Damage to the ear Certain medications like aspirin, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, anti-depressants, and sedatives Medication conditions such as anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease, allergies, undera...

There is a lot to like about the fall season. The cooler weather, changing of leaves, and many holidays make it a fun and festive time of year. However, the change in the weather can also mean new challenges and illnesses that affect your ears, nose, and throat. While many of these issues are more prevalent for children, there are ENT problems that can affect anyone at any age. Here are some of the things to look out for during the fall: The Common Cold There are over 1 billion colds reported in the United States every year, with high activity taking place in the rainy, colder months. Some studies even suggest that the average child will get eight to ten colds per year, primarily from September to March. Viral Upper Respiratory Infections These viruses are spread through coughs, sneezes and even talking, which can seem quite tremendous if you think about every single interaction you have with various people throughout the day. Children at school or a day care environment are at an even...