Pediatric Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can occur at any age. However, hearing problems in infants and children can have consequences during these speech and language developmental years. When children cannot hear well, it affects their ability to learn language and produce clear speech because hearing is fundamental to developing language. There are several causes for hearing loss in…
Pediatric Ear Infections
Causes Ear infections occur when fluid fills the space between the eardrum and the inner ear. This happens when the Eustachian tube becomes blocked thanks to a virus or bacterium, preventing mucus and pus from draining out of the middle ear. These fluids put pressure on the eardrum, causing pain and discomfort. Children are especially…
Hearing Loss
What Are the Most Common Causes of Hearing Loss? A number of factors can cause hearing loss. The most common include aging, noise exposure, ear infections, excessive earwax, ear or head trauma, genetics, birth defects, benign growths or tumors, otosclerosis, Meniere’s disease and reactions to drugs. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Noise-induced hearing loss is the most…
Hearing Aids
Hearing aids have improved greatly with the advent of digital technology. If you’re picturing big and bulky devices with questionable sound quality, you’ll be pleased to learn today’s instruments are smaller, more comfortable and provide sound that is more natural. They are available in a variety of sizes and styles, so finding one that appeals…
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is interrupted periodically throughout the night. These pauses, or gaps, in breathing may be accompanied by choking or gasping but rarely awaken the sleeping individual. An estimated 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, many of them unaware of their condition. What Causes Sleep Apnea? There are…
Snoring
Snoring is the hoarse or harsh sound that occurs when your breathing is partially obstructed It may indicate a serious health condition Snoring and sleep disordered breathing affect 24% of Male and 9% of Female Adults in the United States 75 Million Americans suffer from some sort of snoring or sleep disordered breathing Common disruptive…
Snoring Treatments
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Snoring and sleep apnea treatment relies on an accurate evaluation and airway assessment by one of our specialists During your snoring and sleep apnea evaluation Dr. Barlow will discuss the options of treatment specifically tailored to your needs The following is an overview of treatment options for snoring and sleep…
Chronic Cough
A chronic cough is defined as one that lasts eight weeks or longer. More than simply an annoyance, a lingering cough can disrupt your sleep and affect your work. It may be accompanied by other symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, runny nose, congestion and heartburn. If you have a persistent cough that doesn’t…
Sore Throat
A sore throat is a painful but common affliction that everyone suffers from on occasion. It may be the first sign of a cold, the result of strained vocal cords or a symptom of a more serious condition such as strep throat. As miserable as a sore throat can make you feel, in many cases…
Swallowing Disorder
Swallowing is a complex neuromuscular process involving the mouth, throat, larynx and esophagus. The three phases of swallowing are: oral, pharyngeal and esophageal. Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) becomes more common as we get older. Swallowing Problem Signs and Symptoms: Sensation of food getting stuck in throat or chest Pain with swallowing (odynophagia) Drooling, unable to swallow…