Otologic (Ear) Information

• 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.   Pulsatile Tinnitus is a type of tinnitus which pulsates with the heart.  This type of tinnitus can be caused by serious conditions and needs the evaluation by a doctor.
  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  

Head and Neck Information

• 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.

• ENT Drug Abuse:  Meth Mouth and Nasal Mucosa and Soft Palate Necrosis from inserting narcotics into the nose.

• 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.

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) as a cause of head and neck cancer.

• 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

• Skin Cancer and Dangers of the Sun

General Information

• Hints for Doctors:  A list of common problems and warning signs for the doctor taking care of Ear, Nose and Throat problems.
    

• Hints for Patients:  A list of common problems and warning signs for the doctor taking care of Ear, Nose and Throat problems.
   

• ENT Manifestations of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
       

• 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   Click on picture to enlarge.
  

  	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.  According to Quack Watch, the FDA Has classified Ear Candles as a Medical Device and must approve all manufactures.  To ENT USA's knowledge, none have been approved.    Seely DR, Quigley SM, Langman AW. Ear candles--efficacy and safety.  Laryngoscope. 1996 Oct;106(10):1226-9. View Abstract Ernst E.  Ear candles: a triumph of ignorance over science.  J Laryngol Otol. 2004 Jan;118(1):1-2.Links View Abstract View an Adverse FDA Report on Ear Candles:
  	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.