07
Nov
Hyperacusis: Increased Sensitivity to Sound
Unpleasant or painful over-sensitivity to everyday sounds is called hyperacusis. To an individual with hyperacusis, sounds that don’t seem loud to other people, such as appliance fans, shuffling papers, or a car motor, are painfully loud. High-frequency sounds may be especially p...
View More07
Nov
Maintaining a Healthy Voice
For many people, a strong, clear voice is a major part of their jobs for example, teachers, religious officials, entertainers, and salespeople. Even if you don't have a job that requires you to speak a lot, there are likely times when you want your voice to be in top shape...
View More07
Nov
Holiday Smells for Your Home
There are many smells associated with the holiday season. When you smell something, the olfactory neurons in your nose pass an impulse along the olfactory nerve up to your brain. The olfactory bulb in your bran processes the impulse and passes information about the smell to the l...
View More07
Nov
Avoiding Holiday Feast Heartburn
As many as 20% of Americans need frequent relief from heartburn. Food-related holidays, particularly Thanksgiving, can mean a lot of pain if you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). With reflux, the food, liquid, digestive liquid (bile), and acid move from the stom...
View More07
Nov
Food Allergies in Kids
Kids who have food allergies face a lot of day-to-day challenges. It can be even more challenging during the holidays, when more and unique foods are available and people who may not know about allergies are feeding kids. There are initiatives such as the Teal Pumpkin Project&nbs...
View More07
Nov
Ear-Focused Costumes for Halloween
Halloween is right around the corner! As you're thinking about different costumes for the big day, consider showcasing a very important body part: Your ears! Cat, dog, bear, rabbit, mouse, etc. : A sound-focused mammal with distinctive ears, such as a cat, dog, bear, or...
View More07
Nov
Flat Head Syndrome in Infants (Plagiocephaly)
Plagiocephaly is the term doctors use to describe a misshapen skull, including a flat spot on the back or side of the skull. The term positional plagiocephaly is used when the flat spot is caused by an infant lying on one side for too long. The flat spot occurs because infants&rs...
View More07
Nov
Earwax Impaction Causes and Treatments
Earwax, or cerumen, is created by the ear to help lubricate and protect the ear from external debris. Most of the time earwax naturally leaves the ear by chewing and other jaw movements. As earwax reaches the outside of the ear, it flakes and falls out. Ears are self-cleaning, bu...
View More07
Nov
Helping a Teacher’s Hoarse Voice
A teacher's voice is her most valuable asset. Teachers place huge stress on their voices, often talking for many hours in a day inside rooms with poor acoustics and a lot of background noise. Early in the fall term it’s very common for teachers’ voices to become...
View More07
Nov
Back-To-School: Avoiding Germs in the Classroom
It's the time of year when teachers prepare, kids grumble, and parents rejoice. The start of the new school year is upon us! Whether your kids dread or welcome a new school year, there are plenty of things you’re probably already doing to help them prepare. As your ki...
View More07
Nov
Unclogging a Clogged Ear
There are several reasons an individual may have a clogged ear(s). Assuming that: There’s no pain in the ear that might indicate an ear infection There are no other symptoms such as sinus pain or an upper respiratory infection You don’t typically experience ear issues A clogged...
View More07
Nov
A Lump in a Child’s Neck
Finding a lump or mass in your child's neck can be alarming to any parent. Most of the time, a lump in the neck is a swollen lymph node and not cause for immediate concern. Lymph nodes on the side of the neck, under the jaw, and behind the ears can swell for a number of rea...
View More