Tips to relieve ear pressure
Anyone who has gone scuba diving, flown on a plane or driven through the mountains is familiar with that uncomfortable plugged-up sensation that signals your ears need to pop. But do you know why this occurs? Within the ears are small passageways called the Eustachian tubes. These tubes connect the middle ear to the upper…
What Is Auditory Deprivation?
Hearing loss is a progressive condition, meaning it develops slowly over time. Because of this, many people don’t even realize they have hearing loss until it’s advanced to a stage that cannot be easily treated. This can have devastating impacts, including social withdrawal, feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression and even cognitive decline. There’s another effect…
How to Virtually Celebrate the Holidays with Hearing Loss
It is notoriously difficult for people with hearing loss to communicate in large groups and when background noise is present. And while many are opting to have smaller, more intimate gatherings this holiday season, video calls will now be the preferred method to keep in touch with far-away relatives. This presents a whole new set…
Best and Worst Foods for Your Voice
Between singing along to your favorite carols and video calling your loved ones this holiday season, you may find that your voice is more fatigued than it has been during the past several months of social distancing. It’s important to care for your voice in order to avoid common issues like vocal cord nodules or…
What Are the Most Common Voice Disorders?
Voice disorders occur when the quality, pitch, tone or volume of someone’s voice is abnormal or inappropriate for their age, gender, cultural background or geographic location. In other words, a voice disorder occurs when someone’s voice doesn’t meet their daily needs. It is often the case there is a medical condition causing the voice problems….
Is COVID-19 Making Your Tinnitus Worse?
Tinnitus is that ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, whooshing or rustling sound with no external sound source experienced by roughly 32% of the population, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Tinnitus has many potential triggers, including exposure to loud noise, inner ear damage and stress. Many have reported increased severity of tinnitus since the…
Are Nosebleeds Worth a Trip to the Doctor?
Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, are extremely common. In fact, approximately 60% of people will experience a nosebleed at some point in their life. Nosebleeds most commonly affect children between ages two and 10, as well as adults ages 50 to 80. While nosebleeds can sometimes appear alarming, only around 10% warrant medical treatment. What…
Are Allergies Making You Snore?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, approximately 45% of adults snore on occasion, and 25% snore chronically. While you may not be bothered by your snoring, your partner is certain to be. Many people are unaware of the root cause of their snoring, but it’s possible that the source is all around you every day: dust….
Learning About Loss of Smell During the Pandemic
Your ability to smell is an often-overlooked sense that is important to your survival. An inability to smell, known as anosmia, has been in the news lately due to its connection to COVID-19. Understanding the causes of this condition can help ensure you seek treatment when needed. What Is Smell? Your sense of smell is…
Beware of Ragweed, a Common Fall Allergy Culprit
If you’ve experienced allergy symptoms even though it’s the middle of fall, you’re not alone. There’s even one cause that might stand out more than some of the other outliers: ragweed. Knowing the Signs Like many common allergens, ragweed can lead to sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes, in addition to triggering asthma flares. This…
