Category: Ear

What is an Otolaryngologist?

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. Alexander Goldin, M.D. An Otolaryngologist is a physician trained in both medicine and surgery to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck. Otolaryngology is short for otorhinolaryngology which is derived from the Greek words otos (ear), rhino (nose), laryngo...

TMJ Disorder

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. Sanjeev Balamohan, M.D. Could my ear pain be caused by my jaw? The temporomandibular joint connects the jawbone to the skull. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder) can be caused by genetics, injury to the jaw, or arthritis. Patients often report the following: Jaw pain or tenderness...

Vestibular Migraine

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. David Tojo, M.D. Migraine associated dizziness, vestibular Meniere’s, and vertiginous migraine are just a few names you might have heard. These names are all synonymous with vestibular migraine. Similar to a headache or migraine, however, a vestibular migraine is when an individual experiences migraine symptoms along...

Head Injuries – How they Impact Hearing and Balance

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. Alexander Goldin, M.D. Long term effects of concussions has recently gained global attention. From sports injuries, vehicle accidents, or elderly falls; a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can have long term effects. The CDC defines a TBI as “a bump, blow, or jolt to the head...

Diabetes and Hearing Loss

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. Hearing loss affects 466 million people worldwide while diabetes affects 422 million people worldwide (World Health Organization). Diabetes and hearing loss have more in common; individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to develop hearing loss. What’s the connection? Diabetes can lead to nerve damage; overtime...

What Causes Tinnitus?

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. Sanjeev Balamohan, M.D. Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus [TIN-NUH-TUS or TIN-NIGHT-US], is experienced by over 50 million Americans. Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source. It can sound like a clicking noise, humming, high-pitch ringing, or even sound like your heartbeat....

Hearing Loss Myths vs. Facts

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. As an Audiologist, I think I've heard it all from patients. Let’s demystify popular hearing loss claims: Myth: My hearing loss is normal for my age. Fact: Yes, hearing loss does occur over time due to aging. However, that does not make any hearing loss “normal...

ENT, Sleep Apnea, and Heart Disease – Oh My!

Isn’t sleep apnea just a fancy name for snoring? NO- sleep apnea is when an individual's throat becomes obstructed or shuts down when they are sleeping. If air is not able to pass through the throat, interruptions in breathing deprive the lungs of oxygen. This increases blood pressure, increases heart...

What Can Help my Tinnitus?

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. About 50 million Americans have experienced ringing in the ear that occurs occasionally and lasts a few seconds. Concert goers may have experienced it for an hour or day after attending an event. While these cases demonstrate temporary or transient tinnitus, for 12 million people the...

Ears and Air Travel

By: Kelly Warf, Au.D. Michael Layland, M.D. You’re all packed and ready for that vacation, but did you pack your ear gear? Quickly ascending and descending at high altitudes causes pressure and discomfort in our ears. Our Eustachian tubes (which connect our ears to the back of the nose and...