Ear infections are caused by several factors and can affect both children and adults. Ear infections can cause pain and discomfort and lead to additional health problems, such as hearing loss, if left untreated. An ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor could develop an individualized treatment plan for you or your child. Dr. Frank Kardos is your ENT doctor in Wayne, NJ, for the treatment of ear infections.
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Types of Ear Infections

Ear infections can be caused by various factors, including sinus infections, bacterial infections, allergies, and colds. Other potential causes of ear infections include smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke and climate or altitude changes. Infants and young children can develop ear infections from using a pacifier or drinking from a bottle. Many of these factors contribute to the development of ear infections by causing fluid to build up in the middle ear, which can result in blockages that prevent the ear from draining properly.

The ear is comprised of three main areas that can each become infected. The three types of ear infections include:

• Outer Ear / Otitis Externa — Also referred to as swimmer’s ear, this type of ear infection results from inflammation in the outer ear, which can be caused by the presence of water, sand, or dirt in the ear canal. Symptoms of an outer ear infection include swelling and redness in the outer ear, itching, and severe pain.
• Middle Ear / Otitis Media — This type of ear infection is caused by a viral or bacterial infection, which could be triggered by an infection elsewhere in the body, allergies, or a blocked Eustachian tube. One symptom of a middle ear infection is the discharge of a thick fluid from the middle ear.
• Inner Ear / Otitis Interna — This type of ear infection is often caused by an existing infection in another part of the body, such as a sinus, throat, or tooth infection. Symptoms of an inner ear infection include tinnitus, hearing loss, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Treatments for Ear Infections

It is important to see an ENT specialist for treatment if you or your child develop(s) an ear infection. Untreated ear infections can result in hearing loss, bone or cartilage damage in the ear, or recurring ear infections. At our ENT practice in Wayne, ear infections can be treated in several ways. Dr. Kardos can recommend the right options for best treating an ear infection based on the type and cause of infection. Treatments include:

• Medication to relieve pain
• Oral antibiotics for clearing up bacterial infections
• Ear drops for pain relief or to block bacterial growth
• Ear tubes to improve ventilation and prevent fluid build up
• Myringotomy (draining of fluids from behind the eardrum)

Ear infections can cause pain and discomfort and can lead to long-term complications, such as hearing loss, if not treated in a timely manner. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kardos if you have an ear infection by calling our office in Wayne, NJ, at (973) 956-1200.

When you begin to lose your hearing, you may not notice it at first. As the loss increases, however, both you and your family will observe some changes. Your Wayne, NJ, ENT physician, Dr. Frank Kardos, helps patients pinpoint the nature of their hearing problems and discover the best path to better hearing. Are you struggling with this common health issue?

Expressions of hearing loss

Healthy Hearing reports that 15 percent of American adults have some type of difficulty with their hearing. They may experience difficulty hearing conversations, constantly hear a buzzing or roaring sound (tinnitus), or have to regularly turn up the TV volume. As symptoms escalate, hearing loss sufferers frequently withdraw from social situations, leading to depression and issues with cognition.

Causes of hearing loss

Many factors contribute to hearing loss. Most people believe it is part of the natural aging process, and while research bears this out, other things play a role, too. Examples are:

• Repeated and prolonged exposure to loud noise
• Injury
• Ototoxicity (prescription drugs)
• Diabetes
• Head injury
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Measles, mumps, and shingles

Additionally, simple mechanical problems may occur within the structure of the ear itself, including:

• Accumulation of wax
• Eardrum perforation
• Fracture of the bones in the middle ear
• Fluid build up in the middle ear (from frequent infections)

Dr. Kardos will review your symptoms, inspect your ear canal with a lighted otoscope and recommend some testing with his in-house audiologist. As needed, he may advise imaging, such as an MRI, to rule out tumors associated with the acoustic nerve and other structural abnormalities.

Common treatments at our Wayne office

Much depends on whether you have sensori-neural, conductive (involving the outer, middle, or inner ear structure) or a mixed hearing problem. Hearing aids are a great help, and with today's digital technology, they are smaller and more effective than ever.

Fluid drainage surgery may be an option as are antibiotics for infection and ear wax removal. Some tumors of the auditory nerve (acoustic neuromas) may be surgically removed or simply observed for signs of change. Dr. Kardos and his team will formulate the care plan most effective for you and your type of hearing loss.

Contact us!

If you are experiencing hearing issues or it's simply time for a routine audiology check-up, please contact your otolaryngologist, Dr. Frank Kardos, at his Wayne, NJ, office. The number is (973) 956-1200!

Are you feeling lightheaded more and more often? Find out what could be causing it.

Most people experience a bout of dizziness at some point in their lifetime, whether it’s from not getting enough water throughout the day or from extreme exercise. Of course, if you are noticing that you feel dizzy or lightheaded a lot, it might be time to schedule an appointment with our Wayne, NJ, ENT doctor, Dr. Frank Kardos.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

The name might sound a bit scary, but it’s actually a pretty common condition. If you get out of bed and feel as if the room is spinning around you, you may be dealing with vertigo. It isn’t just a Hitchcock movie! Vertigo is usually to blame for about half of all dizziness experienced in people over the age of 50.

How do you treat vertigo? Our otolaryngologist in Wayne, NJ, has some solutions. We can show you different head positioning techniques that can help realign the crystals in your ear to alleviate your vertigo. Anti-nausea medications and head positioning exercises can all be used to help manage your symptoms.

Overheating/Dehydration

Whether you’ve been out in the heat too long or you’ve just gotten done with a serious sweat-inducing workout, you may be feeling a bit dizzy. The best way to treat this issue is to drink enough water, particularly if you are sweating. Another quick fix is to drink juice, which can give you a tiny boost in your blood sugar. Also, try to lie down afterward. If your dizziness is due to being dehydrated or overheated, you’ll find that it will most likely pass after drinking water or some juice.

Medications

If you take prescription medications regularly and you find yourself feeling dizzy, you may want to take a look at your medication labels. On some prescription medications, it will list dizziness as a side effect.

If you’ve just started taking these medications, your dizziness could be a result of them. If your dizziness has you concerned, you may want to talk to your doctor about switching medications or stopping them altogether.

Meniere’s Disease

While this inner ear issue can affect anyone, it’s most common in adults in their 40s and 50s. Along with feelings of lightheadedness, you may also notice ringing in your ears or pressure in the ear. Some patients with this condition may occasionally feel nauseous.

While Meniere’s Disease isn’t curable, we can help you manage your symptoms. We can prescribe you anti-nausea or motion sickness medications. We can also provide you with exercises which may help with your balance. Those with this condition should get ample sleep and avoid caffeine, alcohol, salt and smoking, which can aggravate your symptoms.

Don’t let dizziness affect your daily life. Turn to the ear, nose & throat expert, Dr. Kardos, in Wayne, NJ. Call our office today to schedule your next appointment.

Hearing loss can have a profound impact on your life, but fortunately, treatments are available if you are experiencing problems. Frank Kardos, MD, your Wayne, NJ, ear, nose and throat doctor, is here to share information about hearing loss causes and treatments.

Aging

Hearing loss can happen as part of the natural aging process. If your problem is age-related, you may have difficulty keeping up with a conversation, or might find that it's hard to hear when it's noisy.

Earwax buildup

The cause of your hearing loss can be a simple as an accumulation of wax in your ear. In addition to hearing loss, you may also experience ringing in your ears and an earache.

Fluid buildup

Fluid buildup in the middle ear can cause temporary hearing loss. The problem is common if you have an ear infection.

Meniere's disease

Meniere's disease affects the inner ear and causes hearing loss, ringing, dizziness and sensitivity to sounds. The disease is most common in people who are between ages 30 and 50.

Noise-induced hearing loss

Exposure to loud noises, particularly if exposure continues for long periods, can damage your hearing. If you work in a noisy environment, failing to wear ear protection may increase your risk of developing hearing loss.

Otosclerosis

Otosclerosis is a disease of the middle ear caused by the overgrowth of bones surrounding the stapes bone. The overgrowth affects the transmission of sounds from the middle to the inner ear.

Acoustic neuroma

An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor that develops on the nerve that extends from your inner ear to your brain. In addition to hearing loss, the tumor can also affect your balance and cause ringing in your ear.

What types of treatments are available for hearing loss?

Treatments vary depending of the cause of your hearing loss. Hearing aids can be helpful in many cases, particularly if your loss is age-related. Antibiotics and decongestants can clear the fluid that accumulates during an ear infection. When fluid buildup is a chronic problem, your doctor may suggest piercing the eardrum to allow for better drainage or may recommend improving drainage by inserting tubes in your ears. Surgery may be needed to remove tumors or correct problems related to your bones or nerves.

Neglecting hearing issues can lead to permanent hearing loss, in some cases. If have trouble hearing, call Frank Kardos, MD, your Wayne, NJ, ear, nose and throat doctor, at (973) 956-1200 to schedule an appointment. There is hope for hearing loss!

Not all forms of hearing loss are the same. Find out which kind you might have.

Are you starting to notice that it’s getting harder and harder to hear those around you? Do you feel like you are missing out on important conversations? If so, then it’s time to see your Wayne, NJ ENT doctor, Dr. Frank Kardos, for a proper diagnosis.

Not all hearing loss is created equally. Here are the three different kinds:

Conductive Hearing Loss

This form of hearing is brought on by a disease or problem that affects how sound waves are conducted in the outer ear, eardrum or middle ear. Those with conductive hearing loss may hear sounds more faintly or you may notice a significant reduction in how much you can hear.

Some of the most common causes of conductive hearing loss include:

• Allergies
• Perforated eardrum
• Ear infection
• Fluid in the middle ear (often caused by a cold)
• Impacted earwax
• Ear canal infection
• Swimmer’s ear
• Foreign object in the ear

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

If there is damage to the inner ear or to the nerve that runs from the inner ear to the brain, you are dealing with sensorineural hearing loss. Along with only hearing noises faintly, even louder conversations and sounds may be muffled and difficult to hear.

Sensorineural can be brought on by:

• Illness
• Aging
• Head trauma
• Genetic hearing loss
• Inner ear malformation
• Exposure to loud sounds

Mixed Hearing Loss

There are times that both sensorineural and conductive hearing loss occur together. This means there is both damage to the middle or outer ear as well as the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Not sure what type of hearing loss you are dealing with? This is where your ear doctor in Wayne can conduct exams and tests to see how significant your hearing loss is, the root cause and how to best treat it.

Hearing loss can easily draw you away from the conversations and people you love most. Don’t let it get in the way of your life. If you are dealing with hearing loss in Wayne, NJ, it’s time you turned to Dr. Frank Kardos to help you get better hearing today.