Ears & Hearing

The inner ear changes mechanical sound waves to an impulse the brain interprets as sounds. It is also the center for balance. Related diseases include Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV),...

Ear candling is an ancient procedure that involves the use of specially-made ear candles designed to draw-out wax. A hollow candle is inserted into the ear canal, lit at the opposite end, and as...

Tinnitus is the sense of a sound in the ear with no external cause. MayoClinic describes tinnitus as "phantom noise" ranging from a "low roar to a high squeal" that affects approximately one in...

Boric acid has antiseptic properties and can be a treatment for acute outer ear infections (otitis externa) in both humans and animals. It is considered a home remedy, however, and caution is...

Health insurance companies can be difficult to deal with when trying to get medical costs covered. If you are hearing impaired, you may be wondering how to get an insurance company to cover your...

Vertigo is often thought of as a symptom of a head cold, flu or other respiratory problem, such as a sinus infection. However, vertigo is not an immediate result of such respiratory issues;...

Learning to properly use your hearing aid takes practice. It is common to feel some frustration when you have a difficult time adjusting your hearing aid. However, you can make simple...

The primary cause of sinus congestion and ear pain is acute sinusitis. This condition occurs when the sinuses become swollen and inflamed. Acute sinusitis is usually not serious unless an...

Foam ear plugs are a great way to protect your hearing in loud environments, so kudos on using them! Putting dirty foam ear plugs into your ear can cause infection, so cleaning them is a must....

If you have a constant or occasional sensation of noise in your ears, you may suffer from the hearing impairment condition known as tinnitus. It is a symptom of an underlying condition that...

Most people take their balance for granted until something goes wrong. If they feel unsteady and lightheaded, as if world around them is spinning, those are indicators of vestibular (inner ear)...

The most common form of hearing loss, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, is classified as sensorineural. This can be caused by aging, injury, brain tumors, infections and...

Getting your ears pierced can be a milestone event in your life. Unfortunately, earrings can sometimes become embedded in the ear, either because the ear gets infected and swollen, the earring...

Hearing aids can supplement partial hearing loss, or provide replacement hearing for total hearing loss. Hearing aids are available in many different styles, and are sized to fit babies, children...

Vestibular neuronitis, or labyrinthitis, is a disorder that causes swelling and irritation of the inner ear. Patients with this condition may have difficulty maintaining their balance, and they...

Earwax is a problem for many people. While earwax is designed as a defensive mechanism by the body to prevent bacteria and debris from entering through the ear canal, it can get compacted in the...

Ear infections are very common in childhood and occur rarely in adults. Fluid accumulates behind the eardrum and causes the middle ear lining to become swollen and infected. The ear infection...

Ringing in the ear, or tinnitus, is the experience of constantly hearing internal sounds in one or both ears, and is usually worse at night. Tinnitus can be the result of ear infections, loud...

As hearing aids become smaller and more technical---wireless remote controls are replacing external volume wheels and buttons on hearing aids. Some hearing aids allow you to connect with...

Ear infections account for more than half of pediatrician visits in the United States, and chronic ear infections afflict two-thirds of children under 6. Though many children suffer with ear...

It is important to know the difference between dizziness and vertigo. Although they are similar, and frequently the result of the same condition, they can also have different causes. Explaining...

Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, roaring, or whistling noise in the ears. This ear noise is a phantom sensation that can limit concentration and may diminish a person's hearing. Several mechanisms...

Ear infections come and go with colds and bad weather. Their symptoms are treatable and they are usually healed within a couple of weeks. Although usually temporary, ear infections can still bring...

Early signs indicating an ear infection often vary for both adults and children. Most ear infections are considered a common illness in children under the age of 3. Generally, for both adults and...

Ear infections are painful, but they are easily treated with antibiotics. Sometimes the wrong antibiotic is prescribed for the bacteria that is causing the infection, and the infection does not...

Earwax is produced naturally from the lining of the ear canal. Its purpose is to protect and lubricate the ear. Although the wax naturally moves outside the ear and comes out, there are times when...

Boric acid has many uses, medicinal and otherwise. When correctly mixed and used, it can be used as an eyewash, to treat minor cuts and burns or to clean, dry out, or eliminate wax from ears as...

Earwax is a natural product that protects the ear from water and infection. Too little earwax increases the possibility of infection, but too much also can cause infection as well as hearing loss....

Ear pain can be caused by a lot of things, such as a cold, the flu or an infection. In some cases, treating ear pain can be done through taking an antihistamine, which gets you feeling better and...

Hydrogen peroxide, found in any drug store, is an antiseptic agent that is odorless and colorless. When applied to a wound, hydrogen peroxide causes an effervescence that removes debris. It can...

Earwax buildup can cause sudden hearing loss, incredible ear fullness or pressure, a dull ear ache and itching inside your ear. A common indicator of earwax buildup is trouble hearing on the...

The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, controls balance. Vestibular disease is the result of viruses, inner ear damage or deterioration, and other causes. It can be a product of many...

Ear infections are common in childhood, but most of them clear up on their own within a few days. Knowing what to expect with an ear infection can help you decide on the appropriate treatment.

Fever blisters or "cold sores" develop when the herpes simplex virus type 1 infects the human body, generating small, swollen, pus-filled blisters on the face, often near the lips. Fever blisters...

The human ear is an ideal place for bacteria to grow, warm, moist and dark. Thankfully your ears produce a natural antibacterial solution--earwax. When it comes to ears, there is no good bacteria;...

Ear infections occur when the tube in the middle ear becomes blocked or swollen. Tubal blockage or swelling can occur as a result of a cold or flu. Ear infections are painful, but there are a few...

Camphor oil is produced from the camphor tree, a native of Southeast Asia. It has antiseptic and medicinal properties, and has been used in a number of ways for centuries. It is commonly used as...

Tinnitus is the continuous ringing and hissing in the inner ear that many people experience. A tinnitus episode can last a short amount of time or it can be a constant affliction, hindering your...

The condition of ringing ears is termed tinnitus. It is commonly caused by exposure to loud noises such as loud music at a club. The ringing can cause depression, stress, dizziness, and a weak...

Meniere's disease is a disease that affects the cochlea and vestibular organ of the body. In the earlier stages, people with the disease endure abrupt attacks of nausea, tinnitus or pressure of...

The Eustachian tube is a small tube that is located in the middle ear canal. The tube can often become clogged due to a cold or sinus infection. The result is middle ear pain. This also causes a...

Otosclerosis is a condition characterized by minute amounts of abnormal bone growth in the walls of the inner ear. This growth freezes the stapes bone (stirrup) in place and prevents proper sound...

By the laws of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an impairment that can be considered a disability is one that limits a major life activity, or substantially limited major life activity...

Tinnitus is defined as a particular condition when you hear noises in one or both ears, and there is no specific external sound that creates it. The sound can click, ring, whistle or hiss...

While ear wax is useful in the body, too much can cause problems. However, ear wax removal is a delicate process, with some risk of damaging the inner ear. Common tools like cotton swabs are...