Lawrence Chow / ENT Doctor
Best 9 Ways to Avoid Having a Perforated Eardrum
Even the term “perforated eardrum” can make you wince, doesn’t it? Your eardrum has a hole or a tear, and that’s a description that makes you want to avoid it at all costs. It starts with pain that can increase until it suddenly decreases, but there’s also hearing loss, tinnitus, drainage from the ear, and vertigo to worry about.
Thankfully, this is a problem that you can prevent as long as you’re very careful. Heeding these tips can help as well:
- If you notice any signs of an ear infection, get yourself to a doctor quickly. An ear infection can cause fluid or pus to build up behind your eardrum. With enough pressure, the eardrum can burst open.
- Don’t stick anything deep inside your ears. This is good advice, even if you want to clean your ears. The cotton swabs you use to poke into your ear may instead poke right through your eardrum.
- If you do manage to get something stuck inside your ear, get to a clinic and have it removed by a healthcare professional. Don’t try to get the thing out yourself, as you may just end up damaging your eardrum.
- If you have a cold or a sinus infection, avoid flying on an airplane or driving on a mountain road. Don’t go scuba diving either. These activities can cause sudden changes in pressure for your ears that can rupture your eardrum and the cold or sinus infection can just make it worse.
- If you really have to fly with a sinus condition, chew a bit of gum during the takeoff and landing. These are the times that cause the sudden changes in temperature. You can also try swallowing or yawning to equalize the pressure in your ears. However, do NOT blow your nose while you pinch your nostrils shut. This is not recommended at all.
- If you’re going to go scuba diving, get yourself certified. This means you’ve learned your lessons well so you know how to equalize the pressure in your ears. You’ll also know not to go scuba diving if you have a cold, a sinus infection, or an ear infection.
- Cover your ears or use ear plugs if you know you’re going to be exposed to loud noises. Do this if you’re in a firing range or you’re using a noise lawnmower or construction drill.
- Stay away from the speakers in a club or live concert.
- Drive carefully and protect yourself during sports. During these times you can get into an accident and suffer head trauma that can tear the eardrum.
As ENT problem is quite different from case to case, it is suggested to consult an ENT doctor for the appropriate ENT services and treatment.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
Top 7 Tips for Tinnitus Prevention
Tinnitus is the condition when you hear ringing or noise in your ears. It’s very annoying, and unfortunately it’s not exactly rare. It can affect up to 15 to 20 of people. It’s not really life-threatening, but why should you go through with it when you can avoid it?
Here are some tips that can keep tinnitus away:
- Keep your hearing aids and earplugs clean, because they can cause infections.
- Don’t put things in your ear if you can avoid it. Not even cotton buds are necessary, since your ears can clean themselves naturally.
- One necessary time to use earplugs is when you’re going to be exposed to extremely loud noises. If the sound will go over 85 decibels, it will be too loud over a period of time. Some sounds are dangerous even if they only last an instant. This is why earplugs are mandatory for the gun firing range.
- Relax and keep a healthy life balance. Learn how to manage your stress. When you’re overly stressed or anxious, you may develop tinnitus. So before you get to that point, try to learn meditation or do yoga. If you can afford it, get massages every week to de-stress. Exercise regularly and eat nutritious meals.
- Try to get far away from audio speakers. If you’re going to a concert or a club, the spots near the speakers are the most dangerous for your ears. Don’t worry; you can still appreciate the music even when you’re a bit farther away. The same principle holds true at home when you’re listening to music. Don’t station the audio speakers right next to your ears.
- If you’re using headphones, don’t crank up the music. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing hard rock or heavy metal songs which are meant to be played loud. Have a friend stand by your side when you’re wearing your headphones. If they can hear the music you’re playing, you’re playing the song too loud.
What you have to realize is that you generally can get used to a certain level of volume. That’s why people who learn to play music loud tend to play it loud all the time. But try to play your music at a lower volume. It may seem too quiet at the start, but soon you’ll get used to it and it will sound just fine.
- Rest your ears regularly. If you’re in a noisy environment, you may get used to the sound but you’re unaware that your ears are actually stressed by the continuous barrage of noise. So let your ears rest and get out. Use mufflers if you have to, just to get to a quiet place!
As ENT problem is quite different from case to case, it is suggested to consult an ENT Specialist for the appropriate ENT services and treatment.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
Diplacusis Facts
For many people, problems with hearing are often associated simply with the inability to hear clearly. But our sense of hearing is much more complex than that, and in some cases the problems can be much more complicated. Such is the case with the type of hearing loss known as “double hearing”. Doctors call this condition diplacusis, though there are several types.
Types of Diplacusis
This problem happens when one ear develops more hearing loss (or a different type of hearing loss) than the other ear. There are several variations to this condition.
Diplacusis Dysharmonica
This is the most common type of diplacusis. It happens when you hear the sound normally in one ear, bit with your other ear the sound is at a different pitch. It’s true that each ear hears sounds at slightly different pitches all the time, and our brain just tends to regard them as the same. But in this case, you may hear very different pitches so that you hear a C note in one ear and an F# in the other ear.
Diplacusis Echoica
This is when the timing of tones is somewhat different in each ear. In one ear the timing is normal, in the other it comes a bit late. Because the sound in one ear comes later, that same sound seems like an echo.
Diplacusis Binauralis
This happens when you hear the same sound differently in each ear. One ear may perceive a sound at a different timing or a different pitch than the other. Unlike the dysharmonica or echoica variants, both ears may be hearing the pitch or abnormally.
Diplacusis monauralis
This is when one ear hears the same sound as two different sounds. So in this case one ear may normal, but the other ear somehow interprets a sound as 2 different sounds.
Causes of Diplacusis
The cause of this condition can either be due to damage to the inner ear or an obstruction in the ear. Your inner ear can be damaged when you’re suddenly hit by a deafening noise, like an artillery barrage or a loud gunshot. You can then end up with NIHL or noise-induced hearing loss.
You may also have suffered some trauma to the head that may have damaged your inner ear. Even some medications can also lead to inner ear damage.
An obstruction to the ear can be the cause of the diplacusis, and this in turn can be caused by excessive earwax or clogged sinuses. An ear infection can also cause swelling that can cause an obstruction, as well as a tumor.
If you wonder if you suffer from diplacusis, it is suggested to consult an ENT Specialist for the appropriate ENT services as soon as possible. HK ENT Specialist Ltd. is a professional Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre to offer ENT Services. Please contact us for an appointment at 3100 0555.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
The Most Common Causes of Difficulties in Hearing
As time flies, you may notice that you’re not able to hear as well as you used to. Perhaps you’ve noticed that your TV volume is now higher than it used to be. Maybe you’re often not able to understand what people are saying and you keep asking them to speak up.
When that happens to you, here are some possible causes (and fixes):
Earwax
It’s ironic that when you clean your ears with cotton swabs, you may end up pushing earwax deeper into your ear. This can lead to a wax buildup known as cerumen impaction that can make it more difficult for you to hear. Even earplugs and hearing aids can cause this problem.
You can solve it with a few drops of baby oil into your ear. The baby oil softens the wax to help clear it out. You can also use hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, or mineral oil.
Your doctor can also just put in a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide to flush out the ear wax. Other specialized tools may be used to remove the wax as well.
You’re Getting Old
Age-related hearing loss is known as presbycusis and it’s actually quite common among senior citizens. About a third of all people between the ages of 65 and 74 have it. Among those over 75, almost half have this problem.
The most common reason for this is simply that the inner-ear structures which allow people to hear wear down, just any other body part. If you’re at that age, you can have your problem tested at the doctor’s clinic so that you can learn how to manage your condition.
Medications
There are at least 200 different medications that can cause hearing loss. These include chemotherapy drugs as well as some types of antibiotics. Even high doses of aspirin can lead to difficulties in hearing. Usually, when you stop taking these medications, the problem goes away as well.
Medical Conditions
There are certain medical conditions which may have hearing loss as one of their symptoms. These conditions include diabetes and high blood pressure. They can interfere with the blood supply to the ear, leading to the hearing difficulties.
Long-Term Exposure to Noise
If you exposed to loud noises for an extended period of time, then eventually you may lose some of your hearing. Your job may include working with loud drills, or you may work near loud airplane engines. If you’re shooting instructor, you may have this problem as well. The same goes for those who work in the hard rock music industry, or if you enjoy cranking the music up high.
If you wonder if you have difficulties in hearing, it is suggested to consult an ENT doctor for the appropriate ENT services as soon as possible. HK ENT Specialist Ltd. is a professional Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre to offer ENT Services. Please contact us for an appointment at 3100 0555.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
What To Do When You Experience An Ear Burning Sensation
It can be a bit discomfiting, to say the least, when you experience an ear burning sensation. This feeling of burning in or around your ears can make it feel tender, inflamed, and swollen. In fact, if you touch your ears they may be warm to the touch.
In many cases this feeling is due to an infection, because bacteria or viruses have entered your body. The redness, swelling, and warmth are caused by the response of your immune system. There’s a Eustachian tube that connects your ear to your throat and permits the drainage of fluid from your middle ear. But a problem can occur when this tube is blocked with fluid. The fluid buildup can cause the bacterial or viral infection, which then leads to the pain and swelling.
Other possible causes includes “swimmer’s ears” (otitis externa), which results from water getting into the outer ear canal. Allergies to earrings and skin conditions like eczema can also produce the symptoms of swimmer’s ears.
Taking Antibiotics
In some cases you can just take antibiotics to take care of the infection. Once the infection is taken care of, the sensation of ear burning goes away as well. In fact, in some cases these infections are resolved on their own as the human immune system does its job.
Seeking Medical Attention
However, there are cases when the cause of the sensation is much more serious. The problem may be caused by anaphylaxis, which is an allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. The problem may also be due to a ruptured eardrum or an infection of the bones behind the ear.
When the sensation of ear burning is also accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care. That means calling 911 as the issue needs the attention of a medical professional ASAP. These additional symptoms include:
- Swelling of the throat or any difficulty with breathing
- High fever, meaning higher than 101 degrees F
- Severe headaches
- Severe pain
- Redness and swelling of the skin around the ear
- Tenderness or throbbing behind the ear, especially when this is over the bone
In fact, if the ear burning sensation is accompanied by any other symptom that causes you some type of concern, it’s better to play it safe and to seek medical care immediately.
The ENT doctor can then diagnose the underlying medical condition that’s causing the problem. The feeling of having your ears burning may be uncomfortable, but the underlying condition that caused that sensation may be much more serious and detrimental for your health.
As ENT problem is quite different from case to case, it is suggested to consult an ENT Doctor for the appropriate ENT services and treatment.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
Possible Causes of Dysphagia
Doctors use the medical term dysphagia to refer to swallowing problems. This can mean having trouble swallowing certain drinks or food items, or being unable to swallow at all. It can be caused by any of the following underlying conditions:
Neurological Causes
If you suffer any damage to your nervous system (brain and spinal cord), this damage can interfere with the nerves involved in starting and controlling the swallowing movement. This type of damage can be caused by a stroke, brain tumors, or myasthenia gravis, which is a very uncommon condition that weakens muscles.
Some neurological conditions can do damage to the brain and nervous system over time. These conditions include dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and motor neurone disease.
Obstruction
If there’s an obstruction in the throat or the esophagus becomes too narrow, swallowing can become much more difficult. This type of problem can be caused by some type of throat or mouth cancer like laryngeal cancer or esophageal cancer. When the cancer has been treated, often the obstruction disappears as well.
Infections, such as thrush or tuberculosis, can also cause inflammation of the esophagus that can lead to swallowing difficulties. This is also true of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), when your esophagus becomes narrower due to stomach acid causing scar tissue to develop.
Other conditions that can cause an obstruction include eosinophilic oesophagitis and pharyngeal (throat) pouches. When you have eosinophilic oesophagitis, your body reacts to certain allergens by building up a type of white blood cell in the lining of the esophagus. This buildup damages the esophagus lining and causes the swallowing difficulties. With throat pouches, your esophagus develops a large sack that reduces your ability to swallow.
Even radiotherapy can also cause an obstruction in the esophagus. The treatment can lead to scar tissue that can narrow the passageway in the throat.
Congenital and Developmental Conditions
Children can have problems with dysphagia if they’re born with a cleft lip and palate. Cerebral palsy can also affect the movement and coordination of the body parts needed for swallowing. Learning difficulties may also make it difficult for some children to learn to swallow.
Muscular Conditions
Though it’s rare, it’s also possible that a medical condition can affect the muscles needed to push down the food into the esophagus and into the stomach. Achalasia is one such muscular condition that’s sometimes associated with dysphagia. This condition causes the muscles in the esophagus to lose their ability to relax and open to let food through.
Another potential problem is scleroderma. This is when the immune system attacks healthy tissue. This can cause a stiffening of the muscles in the throat and esophagus, leading to problems with swallowing.
As the ENT problem is quite different from case to case, it is suggested to consult an ENT doctor for the appropriate ENT services and treatments.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
Tracheitis: Annoyance or Dangerous Condition?
Tracheitis is an infection of the trachea, which is more commonly known as the windpipe. An infection in this part of the anatomy may seem like an annoyance, such as when a performance of “Manon Lescaut” by the noted soprano María José Siri was canceled due to tracheitis. But this isn’t as minor as it may seem at first. Hayden wrestling coach Chad Jones died of this infection because it was left unchecked. He thought that it was merely strep throat, and found out too late that it was tracheitis.
Tracheitis in Children and Adults
Although tracheitis is more known to strike children, these 2 examples show that it can affect adults as well. It is true that it’s more dangerous in children, because they have a smaller trachea and the swelling blocks the windpipe more easily. Yet as the case of Coach Chad Jones shows, it can also be fatal.
Causes and Symptoms
Most cases of tracheitis occur following a bout with the common cold or flu. At first the problem may be signified with a runny nose, a cough, or a low-grade fever. But then the bacteria can spread to the trachea and cause an infection, and this will then lead to breathing difficulties.
The more common symptoms afterwards include high fever, a deep severe cough, wheezing, nasal flaring, and a blue tinge to their skin called cyanosis. Stridor may also develop, and this is the high-pitched sound the patient may make when they breathe. When you have stridor, it’s a sign that the infection has turned serious and that the airway is already partially obstructed. This is a certain sign that medical attention is warranted.
Treatment Options
If left untreated, the condition may block the trachea completely, leading to respiratory arrest and death. If the infection was caused by the S. aureus bacteria, toxic shock syndrome may also develop. This is a condition that can lead to shock, organ failure, and death.
These reasons signify the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment. Once tracheitis has been diagnosed, the doctor can give the patient antibiotics to kill the bacteria. These are typically administered intravenously.
Clearing the airway will also be a priority. To help the patient breathe, the doctor may have to insert an endotracheal tube into the trachea of the patient. This is called the intubation procedure. The tube, after it has been put into its proper position, will then be connected to a ventilator. This will help improve the lung function while the patient is recovering from the infection.
Conclusion
Tracheitis must be treated by an ENT doctor as quickly as possible, even though it may seem like an annoying problem at first. If it is not treated right away, it can lead to serious complications—including death.
If you suffer an ENT problem, it is suggested to consult an ENT doctor for the appropriate ENT treatment. Please contact us for an appointment of our ENT services and consulation at 3100 0555.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
Current Management of Meniere’s Disease
The 411 HKDU Sunday Afternoon Symposium
Topics: Current Management of Meniere’s Disease
Date: 17 November 2019 (Sunday)
Speakers: Dr. Chow Chun Kuen Specialist in ENT
For details of the treatment, it is suggested to consult an ENT Specialist. Phone no (852) 3100 0555
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
https://www.hkentspecialist.hk
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另所有文章內使用的人名均為化名。