Ears & Hearing Loss

Ear Pain & Ear Infections

An ENT doctor shows the anatomy of an ear to a patient

What are ear infections?

In an adult, ear pain can have many different causes, which may include ear infection, eustachian tube dysfunction, jaw joint issues and referred pain from the throat. It is important to seek evaluation by an experienced Otolaryngologist (ENT) to help determine your specific source of ear pain and pressure.

Middle ear infections in an adult are uncommon. More commonly, adults experience outer ear infections, which require gentle removal of infectious material and topical medications. It is important to understand your specific cause of ear symptoms so appropriate treatment can begin.

How are ear infections treated?

The treatment plan depends on the exact source of ear pain. Treatment plans range from topical or oral antibiotics, to physical therapy. It is our goal to identify your exact reason for your ear symptoms and to initiate an appropriate treatment plan while minimizing your down time.
 

Hearing Loss

What is hearing loss?

A decrease in your sense of hearing can be sudden or gradual in onset and can have many different causes such as noise exposure, genetics, aging, infections and more. Many patients may not necessarily notice hearing loss per se, but may notice needing to increase volume of the TV or may struggle to follow conversations in crowded areas. Hearing loss can lead to social isolation and is associated with memory loss, so it is important to get evaluated as soon as possible.

How is hearing loss treated?

 A thorough evaluation to include a history and physical exam along with a hearing test, performed by an Audiologist, is needed to determine what type of hearing loss you may have. Based on the findings of the exam and hearing test, we will recommend appropriate treatment options which may include: hearing aids, medications or surgery. We strongly encourage wearing hearing protection when exposed to loud noises, even if you currently do not suffer from hearing loss! Once diagnosed with hearing loss, it is important to follow up annually for hearing tests to monitor your progression.

To schedule an appointment for a hearing evaluation, contact The Centers for Advanced ENT Care -- Metro ENT at 301.315.0003 or schedule online anytime.

Tinnitus

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually a symptom that is only perceptible to the patient themselves. On rare occasions it can actually be heard by others. Tinnitus is a sound heard in the ear, typically a tone or ringing noise, although the source of the tone does not actually exist. Much research is being done into the exact cause and treatment of tinnitus. Known causes include certain benign tumors, loud noise exposure, certain medications and hearing loss. Often times, a distinct cause of the tinnitus does not exist and treatment centers on treating the symptom of the noise.

How is tinnitus treated?

There are many suggestions for treatments of tinnitus found during an on-line search, but often times, a cure does not exist. Identifying known sources of tinnitus, such as benign tumors, hearing loss and medications is part of the work-up. Often times, treatment is centered around distraction techniques, i.e. training your brain to focus on other distractions rather than the tinnitus. For patients with hearing loss, tinnitus improves with a hearing aid. There is also an FDA-approved device specifically for patients with debilitating tinnitus, but the majority of patients do well with distraction techniques.

Dizziness

What is dizziness?

Dizziness, or specifically vertigo, is a sensation of motion when motion does not exist. Most people will experience sensations of imbalance throughout their lives. Other related symptoms are:

  • headaches
  • hearing loss
  • worsening of tinnitus
  • weakness
  • feeling light-headed

Our balance system is very complex and includes: the brain, eyes, balance organ in the ears, cardiovascular system and our nervous system. A deficiency in any of these individual systems can lead to a sense of dizziness or imbalance. It is very important to seek a comprehensive evaluation for your symptoms due to the complexity of all of above systems interacting together to create our sense of balance.

How is dizziness treated?

It is imperative to understand the reason for your imbalance, as treatment options vary and even referrals to different medical specialists may be required. Often times, if the source of imbalance is due to our ears (balance organs), it is treated with physical/balance therapy and head position maneuvers. Medications, such as Dramamine or Anti-Vert, help with the acute room-spinning dizziness, but chronic use of these medications can actually IMPAIR your ability to recover. These medications should be used sparingly under the direction of your medical provider. Developing an appropriate treatment plan with associated symptom improvement can take time, so it is important you communicate and work with your treatment team for optimal results.