Hearing is one of the most common parts of the natural aging process. However, hearing loss that’s noise-induced is likewise increasingly becoming common, says the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. They also state that about 15% of adults in the United States aged between 20 to 69 years olds and 5% of kids over the age of six have noise-induced hearing loss.

Here at Frank L. Kardos, MD in Wayne, NJ, our doctors, Dr. Frank Kardos and Dr. Gary Hilt, can screen and diagnose hearing loss and suggest treatments that will be most effective to your condition.

Common Causes of Hearing Loss

The top causes of hearing loss include aging and overexposure to noise. Noise-induced hearing loss could happen anytime you’re exposed to extremely loud noises. It usually develops because of repeated and constant exposure to very loud sounds, however, it’s possible for permanent hearing loss to develop even following one episode. These sustained or sudden loud sounds could significantly damage the inner ears’ tiny hairs, which are crucial to hearing. These hairs are not capable of regenerating so you need to do all that you can to protect them.

The world could be a very loud place and people often engage in common activities that provide damaging and sustained noise exposure. These activities typically involve loud music, power tools, heavy machinery, gunfire, and lawn equipment. Unfortunately, most noise-induced hearing loss cases are irreversible and permanent. This is why reducing your risk of developing the condition is immensely vital.

Preventive Measures to Reduce Your Risk of Hearing Loss

• Wear ear protection that fits properly.
• Limit or avoid your exposure to excessively loud noises.
• Limit the volume or headphones or earphones, particularly for kids.
• Always keep ear protection with you. A simple yet effective option is foam ear inserts since these are portable and can be easily stored in your pocket or purse for unexpected noise exposure.
• Refrain from exacerbating potential damage by wearing earphones or headphones and turning up your music so that you could hear it over heavy machinery or a lawnmower.
• Visit your ENT doctor in Wayne, NJ, if you experience sudden hearing loss, consistent pain, and/or ringing in your ear.

When to Undergo a Hearing Test

A hearing screen for most individuals at age 50 will suffice as a preventive measure. You should then get screened every five or 10 years after, depending on your specific circumstances. If hearing loss, however, is identified, you should visit your ENT doctor yearly for checkups.
 

For Any Concerns or Questions on Hearing Loss, Give Us a Call

Call (973) 956-1200 to reach Frank L. Kardos, MD, here in Wayne, NJ, and arrange your consultation with Dr. Frank Kardos or Dr. Gary Hilt.

How your ENT specialist in Wayne, NJ, can help you breathe better

Struggling to breathe can be harmful to you, both physically and mentally, making you anxious about participating in activities and fearful of your future. Fortunately, your ear, nose, and throat specialist can help. Read on to learn how Dr. Frank L. Kardos in Wayne, NJ, can diagnose and treat the cause of your breathing problem, and help you breathe better.

Possible Causes

Allergies can cause significant breathing difficulties. Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies like hay fever, or environmental allergies like mold, pet dander, or dust mites, your ENT specialist can help by discovering what you are allergic to. Skin tests are one of the most effective ways of determining what triggers your allergy symptoms. Treatment for allergies may include:

• Prescription-strength antihistamines and decongestants
• Allergy shots and/or sublingual immunotherapy
• Counseling on how to avoid allergy triggers

Allergies may go hand-in-hand with asthma. Asthma can cause severe breathing problems, including sudden asthma attacks which can be life-threatening. Asthma can be effectively treated with inhalers to provide short term relief, and medications to provide long-term relief. You may have asthma if you are:

• Chronically coughing and wheezing
• Having trouble breathing during physical activity
• Feeling a tightness or heaviness in your chest
• Experiencing chronic, recurring bronchitis

If you are having breathing problems while you sleep, this could also be a sign of sleep apnea, which is another common condition that your ENT specialist is an expert at treating. Sleep apnea is caused by the tissue at the back of your throat relaxing and blocking your airway while you sleep. If you wake up with a gasping, choking sensation or have been told that you snore loudly at night, you might have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is diagnosed through the help of a sleep study. The condition can be effectively treated by wearing a continuous positive airway pressure machine, known as a CPAP, or using an oral mandibular advancement appliance. Your ENT specialist can help you decide which is the best choice for you.

Concerned? Give Us a Call

These are just a few common causes of breathing problems. To learn more about how we can help you breathe easier, call Dr. Frank L. Kardos in Wayne, NJ, by dialing (973) 956-1200.

Do you find yourself missing half of what people are telling you or straining to hear conversations on the TV? If so, you very well could be dealing with some type of hearing loss. If you’re concerned about this issue, Dr. Frank Kardos, your ENT doctor here in our clinic at Wayne, NJ, can help diagnose your condition and recommend the best possible treatment options for you.

What Exactly is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is characterized by the decreased ability to hear sounds and can occur in only one or both ears. Deafness, or total hearing loss, is very rare, but some degree of hearing loss is completely normal, as you grow older. According to the NIDCD, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 25% of individuals aged between 65 and 74 years old will develop hearing loss. Common hearing loss causes include the following:

• Genetic abnormality
• Infections
• Congenital birth defect
• Toxicity
• Aging
• Trauma or injury to the head or ear
• Fluid or earwax buildup in the ear
• Chronic exposure to extremely loud sounds

How is Hearing Loss Treated?

When determining the most suitable hearing loss treatment, we will closely consider which exact type of hearing loss you’ve sustained. Generally speaking, hearing loss types include sensorineural hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, and conductive hearing loss. During a consultation at our Wayne office, we will the following factors into consideration:

• The severity or degree of hearing loss
• The cause
• Your age
• Your lifestyle
• Your communication requirements
• Your budget
• Your cosmetic preferences

You can undergo medical or surgical treatment, depending on the exact kind of hearing loss you have, particularly if you have conductive hearing loss. However, the most common and effective treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids. These are available in a myriad of styles, and Dr. Kardos is happy to help you select the one best for your situation.

Living Well with Hearing Loss

You don’t need to live a silent life or withdraw from your friends and family just because you have hearing loss. After all, 9n most cases, treatments can help restore or improve your hearing. If you’re still not used to your decreased hearing ability and have yet to receive treatment, don’t hesitate to ask people to speak a bit louder and slow down when talking. Pay closer attention to who’s speaking and limit background noise so that you can hear and communicate with people more easily.

Call Us

Concerned about hearing loss? Book a consultation with Dr. Frank Kardos here at our clinic in Wayne, NJ, by dialing (973) 956-1200 as soon as possible. Remember, the earlier you receive a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin treatment and take back your hearing.

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.

Acute sinus infections and inflammation usually clear up on their own, and the symptoms can be managed with over the counter medication, just like the common cold. Sinus problems can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, in which case you might require antibiotics. Chronic sinus problems can also be a sign of a middle ear infection. Dr. Frank Kardos, an ear, nose, and throat doctor in Wayne, NJ, recommends that you schedule an appointment if your sinus symptoms last for more than a week and don't clear up with over the counter medication, or if they continue to flare up over a prolonged time period.

Sinus Treatment in Wayne, NJ

Sometimes it's hard to tell if you have a sinus infection because they can occur in conjunction with and share many of the same symptoms as the flu or the common cold. The most common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:

• Nasal inflammation
• Deep nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose
• Thick nasal discharge or drip down the back of the throat
• Facial tenderness and swelling around the sinuses (sinus pain can also extend to the jaw and feel like a toothache)
• Compromised sense of smell and/or taste
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Halitosis
• Fatigue and exhaustion

Cause of Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis can be triggered by a few factors such as:

• Allergies
• Nasal polyps (tissue growths)
• Deviated septum
• Bacterial or viral infection

If you don't feel better (or continue to feel worse) and your symptoms don't improve with over the counter medication, home remedies, or rest after about a week, schedule an appointment to rule out a bacterial infection or other complication.

Some of the standard sinus treatment options for chronic sinusitis are:

• Nasal, oral, or injectable corticosteroids
• Nasal irrigation with saline
• Antibiotics
• Immunotherapy to manage allergies when they are identified as the underlying cause
• Endoscopic surgery to open the nasal passage (if conservative treatments are ineffective)

Find an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Doctor in Wayne, NJ

For more information about sinus treatment for chronic sinus infections, contact our office by calling (973) 956-1200 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kardos today.