Published in the Edmond Sun under ‘Ask the Doctor’
- What’s the best way to clean my ears? You may have heard it said, ‘don’t stick anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.’ This is a good motto. If you have problems with ear wax buildup it’s best to let a professional clean your ears. A cotton swab should only be used to clean the outside of the ear and should not be pushed into the ear canal as this may impact the ear wax deeper.
- What’s the cause of ringing in my ears? Hearing sound in your ears or head when there isn’t an external source is called tinnitus. Constant tinnitus is an associated symptom of hearing loss and can be a symptom of an even more serious disease. If you have pulsing tinnitus or tinnitus on only one side you should certainly be checked by a professional. For more information visit: www.ata.org (American Tinnitus Association), www.ohsu.edu/ohrc/tinnitusclinic (Oregon Health Science University).
- What’s the best way to protect my ears from loud noise? Acoustic earmuffs are one of the best methods to protect your ears. Earplugs offer varying degrees of protection, as well. Combining the two does the best job. There are also high-tech electronic earmuffs and ‘earplugs’ that enable normal hearing, even enhanced hearing, but suppress certain types of noise like the report of a hunter’s weapon or the engine noise of an airplane.
- My hearing is fine. Why do I struggle understanding speech? If you haven’t had your hearing tested, you should. You hearing at certain pitches might be compromised. Your complaint is typical of someone with a high pitch hearing loss as some consonant sounds, like the –s or –th, might be inaudible. Background noise might make understanding even more difficult. The problem might lie in the way your brain processes speech. See a professional for a hearing assessment.
- Are there implants available for nerve type hearing loss? There are some effective implantable devices depending upon the severity of your hearing loss. For the profoundly deaf, the cochlear implant uses an electrode surgically placed into the inner ear to stimulate the hearing nerve. Some middle ear implants have been developed for sensorineural deafness, but they’re quite expensive and haven’t demonstrated many benefits over conventional hearing aids. To date, there are no FDA approved totally implantable hearing devices.
- My hearing tests normal, but at times I can’t follow the conversation. Can anything help? If you’ve had your hearing tested and your test is normal, then you may need a more thorough evaluation by a professional to pinpoint the problem. Your brain may not be processing sound as it should even though you hear well. Rapid speech and background noise can be particularly bothersome. There are a variety of helps depending on the cause of the problem.
- Is allowing water in your ears harmful? Not for most people. If, however, you’ve had ear surgery or ear infections in the past you should consult with your physician. Some people have a propensity toward external ear canal infections and swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear plugs may be appropriate.
- What causes ear infections? Ear infections can take place in the external ear canal, middle ear and even the inner ear. Bacteria or viruses can invade any one of these three and even fungal infections can take place in the external ear canal. Infection of the middle ear, behind the eardrum, can occur via the eustacian tube following a throat infection producing an infectious fluid and even a perforated eardrum. Consult your hearing healthcare professional for help.
- Is there a treatment or cure for tinnitus? Tinnitus is perceived sound (like ringing, roaring or buzzing) when no environmental sound is present. Prior to treatment, you should be examined by a professional as there can be a number of causes of your tinnitus. Treatment may be as simple as the removal of some earwax. Most constant tinnitus can not be cured, but relief may be found with the use of maskers, stress reduction techniques and coping strategies.
- I need a hearing aid, but I’m quite vain. Are the smaller hearing aids more expensive? In the past, reduction of the internal electronics significantly added to the price of hearing aids. Today the primary expense related to hearing aids is the research and development behind amplification strategies to increase their effectiveness in difficult listening situations. Inexpensive hearing aids can be just as cosmetically appealing but their performance may not suite your listening needs if you’re socially active.