Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
First-line treatment options are generally aimed at treating the underlying cause and include attempting to "pop" the ears, usually via the Valsalva maneuver, the use of oral or topical decongestants, oral steroids, oral antihistamines, and topical nasal steroid sprays, such as Flonase.
The ear is built to function like a "conveyor belt" by sloughing off dead skin and earwax that naturally pushes its way out. This system tends to work well without much need for assistance.
Patulous Eustachian tube is a physical disorder. The exact causes may vary depending on the person and are often unknown. [5] Weight loss is a commonly cited cause of the disorder due to the nature of the Eustachian tube itself and is associated with approximately one-third of reported cases. [6]
The tensor tympani is a muscle within the middle ear, located in the bony canal above the bony part of the auditory tube, and connects to the malleus bone. Its role is to dampen loud sounds, such as those produced from chewing, shouting, or thunder.
Individuals with exploding head syndrome hear or experience loud imagined noises as they are falling asleep or are waking up, have a strong, often frightened emotional reaction to the sound, and do not report significant pain; around 10% of people also experience visual disturbances like perceiving visual static, lightning, or flashes of light.
Cochlear hydrops preferentially affects the apex of the cochlea where low-frequency sounds are interpreted. Due to the fluid imbalance in this area, parts of the cochlea are stretched or under more tension than usual, which can lead to distortions of sound, changes in pitch perception, or hearing loss, all usually in the low frequencies.
Hyperacusis is an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise. Definitions of hyperacusis can vary significantly; it often revolves around damage to or dysfunction of the stapes bone, stapedius muscle or tensor tympani ().
It is typically experienced as a secondary symptom of sensorineural hearing loss, although not all patients with sensorineural hearing loss experience diplacusis or tinnitus. [1] [2] The onset is usually spontaneous and can occur following an acoustic trauma, for example an explosive noise, or in the presence of an ear infection. [3]