Digital Hearing Aids:  Hearing Aids have come a long way.  The new digital aids match the patient's hearing loss with a high degree of accuracy and are small enough to fit almost completely into the ear canal.
	Types of Hearing Loss: There are two major types of hearing loss.  A conductive loss which involves the middle ear, eardrum or middle ear bones (ossicles) and a sensorineural loss which involves the inner ear or auditory nerve.
	Noise Induced Hearing Loss:  Noise induced hearing loss is the most common type of preventable hearing loss. Search PubMed for Noise Induced Hearing Loss
	Childhood Hearing Loss: Hearing loss in children interferes with learning language, speech and reading.  Diagnosis should be done as early as possible.
	Ear Ringing:  Ear ringing or tinnitus is one of the most common symptoms of hearing loss.   Search PubMed for Tinnitus
	Ear Pain, Itching and Discomfort:  Ear pain, itching and discomfort are common patient problems, but only half are from ear disease.
	Dizziness: Not all dizziness is from the inner ear, in fact, most are not.  Inner ear dizziness, or vertigo, is a sensation of motion not light headedness.  Search PubMed for Particle Repositioning Maneuver Search PubMed for Meniere's Disease
	Ear Infections:  The most common cause of fever in children is an ear infection, unfortunately the "bugs" are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Search PubMed for Acute Otitis Media

	Gastroesophageal Reflux:  The most common cause of hoarseness in the non-smoker and a common cause of food sticking in the lower neck is stomach acid refluxing into the throat.
	Laryngeal Cancer & Smoking and Cancer:  Information on cigarette smoking as a cause of laryngeal cancer. Search PubMed for Larynx Cancer Search PubMed for Smoking and Cancer
	Neck Masses:  Neck masses are a common problem.  Many disorders can produce neck masses including benign lymph nodes, congenital cysts, and cancers.
	The Facial Nerve and Bell's Palsy:  Downloadable program for staging facial nerve paraylsis.  The Neely and Cheung Rapid Grading System. Search PubMed for Bell's Palsy
	Multidrug Resistant Organisms are on the rise.  What should be done to prevent MRSA and other dangerous infections.  Learn more about MRSA and MRDOs

	Hints for Doctors:  A list of common problems and warning signs for the doctor taking care of Ear, Nose and Throat problems.
	Link to the American Academy of Otolaryngology Patient Information Section:   This web site has abundant information on hearing loss, sinus disease, and throat and swallowing disorders.
	National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Abundant Patient Information for the National Institute of Health
	ENT Quackery - From Quack Watch --Ear Candles  To the right is a picture of an eardrum coated with debris from an ear candle.  Thus, they certainly do not produce a suction to remove debris from the ear canal.    Click on picture to enlarge. --Anti-Snoring Devices and Medications.  Michaelson and Mair report, in a randomized blinded clinical trial, that there was no improvement in snoring in patients that used "Snor Enz", "Breathe Right" strips or the "Snore-No-More Pillow"  View Abstract --Allergy Quackery
	--Use of ear clips to loose weight:  A patient shown in the right hand picture had an ear clip placed to help her loose weight.  After 6 months she had not lost any weight but developed a cellulitis of the auricle, which responded to ciprofloxicillin and topical antibiotics.

Warning!!! ENT USA considers ear candles to be pure quackery and
strongly advises that they not be used.