What Is a Patulous Eustachian Tube?
The Eustachian tubes are the passages between your middle ears and the back of your throat. They have several jobs, including allowing fluid to drain from the middle ear and equalizing air pressure between your middle ears and your environment. The majority of the time, your Eustachian tubes are closed. They open only when you…
How to Know if Your Baby Has an Ear Infection
Middle ear infections, also known as acute otitis media, are extremely common in babies and young children. In fact, according to a study published in American Family Physician, “Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common diagnosis in childhood acute sick visits. By three years of age, 50% to 85% of children will have at…
What Is an ENT & When to Visit One
ENT (ear, nose and throat) physicians are also known as otolaryngologists. As the name suggests, they address problems having to do with the ears, nose and throat, such as hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness, sinus infections, swallowing disorders and speech disorders. They also specialize in sleep disorders, and they can perform surgeries…
How to Safely Remove Earwax at Home and When You Should See an ENT About It
The right amount of earwax is essential to cleaning and protecting your ears. However, sometimes earwax can build up in the ear and cause more serious problems. Avoid Using Cotton Swabs To Clean Your Ears Like many, you may think that using cotton swabs is a good way to clean your ears and prevent any…
What Is a Ruptured Eardrum?
The eardrum, known by audiologists as the tympanic membrane, is the thin tissue that divides the outer ear and the middle ear. Its job is to vibrate as soundwaves enter the ear canal; the vibrations are then sent through the bones of the middle ear and then on to the inner ear and the brain….
What is Glue Ear and How is it Treated?
Glue ear occurs when your middle ear fills with a thick, glue-like fluid. It is much more common in children than in adults. While it often clears up on its own, glue ear has the potential to lead to complications like infection and even hearing loss. When it becomes an infection, glue ear is also…
What Is Ear Tube Surgery?
Ear tube surgery is performed in order to treat and prevent middle ear infections. The procedure is mostly performed on children; this is because children’s Eustachian tubes – which connect the middle ears to the back of the throat – are much shorter and more horizontal than adults’, making it harder for fluid to drain…