6 Common Causes of Ear Pain in Adults and Older Kids (VIDEO)

It is nearly universal that when an adult or older child complains of ear pain , an infection is thought to be the cause... EXCEPT if you are in an ENT clinic where patients with ear pain are routinely seen and found to have no ear infection at all! If an ear pain is not due to an ear infection , than what can it be due to? This video describes 6 different but common causes of ear pain  including an ear infection. Check it out!

2/21/2019 0

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Balloon Eustachian Tube Dilation to Treat Clogged Ears (VIDEO)

A new video has been uploaded describing how balloon dilation of the eustachian tube is performed for adult patients suffering from persistently clogged ears . Also known as balloon eustachian tuboplasty , this procedure would be considered an alternative treatment to tube placement in the eardrum . Our office is preparing to offer this innovative treatment sometime in the near future... just not yet currently, so stay tuned. More info here .

10/05/2017 0

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The Clogged Ear Tube - How to Unclog It?

Ear Tube clogged with debris Once the decision has been made to place ear tubes for one reason or other, typically for chronic ear infections , eustachian tube dysfunction , or serous otitis media , the ear symptoms resolve until either the ear tube prematurely comes out... OR the tube becomes clogged usually with earwax , very thick mucus, granulation tissue, or dried debris. After all, the tube works by allowing ventilation between the middle ear space and the ear canal. With a clogged…

5/01/2016 1

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Negative Ear Pressure Causing Inability to Pop a Clogged Ear

Have you ever closed the lid on an air-tight container containing a left-over hot meal and stuck it in the refrigerator? And than when you try to open the lid the next day once that hot meal cools down, it is REALLY hard to open the lid because of the accumulated negative pressure? In essence, the negative pressure has "locked" the lid down. Well, something similar can also potentially happen inside the ear with eustachian tube dysfunction , especially with negative pressure (rather…

2/05/2013 4

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Why Is Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation to Treat Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Slow to Catch On?

Eustachian tube dysfunction  is a phenomenon whereby a person is unable to  pop their ears  to relieve symptoms of ear pressure, clogging, or fullness. It is much akin to the ear pressure a person experiences when flying, but at ground level. Traditionally, treatment of this condition involved medications like steroid nasal sprays and prednisone along with active valsalva (watch video below). Once medical treatment has failed,  ear tube placement  has been the step of last resort. However,…

11/13/2012 35

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Devices That Help Fix Clogged Ears

Clogged ears  due to eustachian tube dysfunction or fluid in the ears is one of the most common complaints seen in an ENT clinic. Beyond medications like steroids & nasal sprays or even surgery ( ear tubes ) to resolve this complaint, a fundamental physical maneuver the patient MUST also be doing is called " valsalva ". Valsalva is the attempt to "pop" the ears by yawn, swallow, or attempting to gently blow air out the nose that is pinched shut. The yawn and swal…

6/02/2012 2

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