Sudden Hearing Issues

The labs that produce the world’s top hearing instruments have been making high quality products for decades. Like many other products, hearing aids evolve and improve over time. Patients and prospective patients with hearing loss frequently ask how modern day hearing aids compare with those of the...

One of the most common complaints we hear from patients is a plugged sensation in the ears. Patients feel they can still hear, have no pain or dizziness, however, they feel as if something is blocking their ear canals. Why does this happen? Is this normal? Can it be helped? Where is the probl...

People can suddenly lose hearing. This is more likely to occur in only one ear. It may be both ears, however, and there may be additional symptoms. There are many possible causes. Healthcare providers need to be able to find the most likely cause and begin treatment fast. Symptoms that may go...

You wake up one morning and something is different. Your ear feels plugged. Perhaps you switched ears on your phone and cannot hear out of one side. You need more volume to hear the news report. Your ear buds only work on one side. Is this normal? What could it be? What can be done? Sudden lo...

Hearing is a highly complex task that can take vibrations in the air and turn them into an idea. Great speeches, alarm sounds, dog barks or beautiful music begin as mere vibrations reaching the ears. Hearing begins with detection (“a sound is present”). Next comes discrimination (“that is a word”...

Recently a patient told us a story that was intended as humor but carried a sad undertone. He has been dealing with hearing loss since leaving the military. Over the years his hearing has decreased slowly. His wife and family have been with him over 40 years. The patient said, “You know, hearing los...

You wake up one day, and something has changed. You sense you can’t hear out of one ear. It feels plugged, and you’re only really hearing from one side. Perhaps it bothers you a whole day. You reassure yourself it will pass. But will it? Is this normal? Should you take action? How long should you wa...

Tinnitus is phantom noise perception. It is a sound that is heard without coming from the outside world. It can be a ring, buzz, hiss, hum, chirp, music or other sounds. It is experienced by at least 50 million Americans. Patients’ reactions to tinnitus range from a minor nuisance to a major disrupt...