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Is Your Hearing Loss Temporary or Permanent?
While many causes of hearing loss are temporary, if you do not seek treatment promptly, complications can arise that lead to a permanent loss of hearing. Below are some causes of temporary hearing loss and the risks of letting it go untreated. Ear Infection Allergies or a bad cold can develop into an ear infection.…
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Can Exercise Harm Your Hearing?
While regular exercise has a myriad of benefits, that doesn’t mean there aren’t risks as well. In fact, it may surprise you to learn that certain forms of exercise can negatively impact your hearing. Heavy exertion and the noise levels in gyms can both have an effect on your hearing health. The Link Between Weightlifting…
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Do You Snore or Have Sleep Apnea?
Most people snore at some point in their lives, usually when suffering from a cold, during allergy season or after drinking. However, for many people, snoring is not merely an annoyance for their sleeping partner, but a sign of a serious health condition known as sleep apnea. Below is a guide to help you determine…
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Face Masks Pose Problem for the Hearing Impaired
The CDC is recommending that people wear face masks in public places to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While this is an important measure to protect people from the virus, it does pose a problem for people with hearing loss. This is both because the mask makes communication difficult by muffling speech and creating a…
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What Is Tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is an umbrella term for inflammation of the tonsils caused by a virus or bacterial infection. A lot of conditions can cause inflammation, from the common cold to the flu to strep throat. What Causes Tonsillitis? “Strep throat is a common cause of tonsillitis, but it’s not the only cause,” explained Kara Meister, head…
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New Guidelines for Ménière’s Disease
This April, The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation released new guidelines for diagnosing Ménière’s disease. This disorder has long eluded doctors, making these new guidelines a welcomed announcement. The more agreement ear, nose and throat doctors have on this condition, the better the patient outcomes. What Is Ménière’s Disease? Ménière’s disease is…
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How to Prevent Hearing Damage from Headphones
Many people love listening to their favorite music, podcasts or radio stations on the go. Everywhere you look, you’ll see people listening to something through their headphones or earbuds, especially now that wireless options are available. This luxury, however, can be costly. According to the World Health Organization, 1.1 billion young people worldwide are putting…
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Allergy Season Is Starting Earlier & Lasting Longer
Statistics show that in Georgia, as well as many other places around the world, pollen counts are beginning and peaking much earlier than previously documented years. Experts say this is likely due to climate change. About the Data Last spring, geologist and paleontologist Steven Holland of the University of Georgia tweeted a chart (shown below)…
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Symptoms of Sinusitis
Sinus infections occur when the sinus cavities become swollen, inflamed and infected, usually at the tail-end of a cold or allergy attack. Infections tend to linger long after upper respiratory symptoms have passed. Acute Vs. Chronic Infections Acute sinusitis is defined as a sinus infection that lasts less than four weeks, according to the American…
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Understanding Childhood Ear Infections
Ear infections are usually caused by bacteria that grows when there is a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum. While anyone of any age can get an ear infection, they are most common in children. In fact, five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Ear infections…