What is Sudden Hearing Loss?
For most people who experience hearing loss, the condition comes on gradually over a period of years. In rare cases, an abrupt loss of hearing occurs with little or no warning. This condition is known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). What is Sudden Deafness? Sudden deafness is defined as a hearing reduction of 30…
Choosing a Hearing Aid
If you are experiencing hearing loss, odds are good that you’ll benefit from a hearing aid. But choosing the right one is no simple task. Today’s hearing aids are smaller and more feature-packed than their predecessors, offering an array of options. Narrowing the choices down can be tough, but there are a few important things you…
Hearing Protection
We are exposed to sound on a daily basis. Volume levels vary considerably, and can easily exceed 85 decibels (dB) – the threshold that is considered safe. Any prolonged exposure to noise exceeding this is harmful and can cause permanent, irreversible hearing loss. Excess noise exposure isn’t the only cause of hearing damage. Diseases, drugs and…
Mouse and Cockroach Allergens
Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to have infestations of mouse and cockroach in your house to be exposed to mouse or cockroach allergens. Primary culprits of exposure come from particles of feces from cockroach and from feces, urine, epithelium (skin cells), and dander from mice. These allergens become airborne as the particles…
Living with Pets
Animal dander is the small particles of dead skin cells found on the surface of cats, dogs, birds, and other animals. Animals constantly shed their dead skin cells, and as they move the dander is deposited on anything the animal touches. Animal dander also becomes airborne. It is extremely light-weight and will stay airborne even…
Allergy FAQs
What You Need to Know About Middle Ear Surgery
Within the middle ear is the eardrum. If you attend a concert at Palace Theatre and stand near a speaker without hearing protection, you run the risk of rupturing your eardrum. If the tear is minor, you may be able to let it heal on its own, but if it’s severe, it may require surgery….
Everything You Need to Know About Balloon Sinuplasty
Do you experience ongoing symptoms of sinus congestion, facial pain and pressure, headache and fever, also known as chronic sinusitis? If so, you may be a candidate for balloon sinuplasty. Balloon sinuplasty has nothing to do with balloons like what you’d find at Ringling Bros Barnum & Bailey; it is a procedure that was adapted…
What to Expect for Turbinate Reduction Surgery
The turbinates are three pairs of structures within the nose that warm, moisten and filter the air that you inhale. Unfortunately, they can become enlarged, swollen or displaced, causing a nasal blockage, difficulty breathing and inability to smell the flowers at The Albany Victory Gardens. When this happens, turbinate reduction surgery may be required. Below…
How to Fix a Broken Nose
A broken nose isn’t just unsightly, it can also make breathing through your nose difficult. It’s important to seek care right away for the easiest treatment and best outcomes. Below we review everything you need to know to fix your broken nose. What Causes a Broken Nose? Nasal fractures are often the result of a…