Anatomy of the Ear

Audiology

What is audiology?

Audiology is the clinical evaluation and management of hearing and balance problems in people of all ages. It also involves the fitting and management of hearing aids and other hearing assistive devices.
The specialist who practices audiology is called an audiologist.

Signs that may indicate the need to see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation:

Ear infection

An ear infection, or otitis media, is the most common cause of earaches. Although this condition is a frequent cause of infant distress and is often associated with children, it can also affect adults.
The infection in the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum where tiny bones pick up vibrations and pass them along to the inner ear) very often accompanies a common cold, the flu, or other types of respiratory infections. This is because the middle ear is connected to the upper respiratory tract by a tiny channel known as the eustachian tube.
Germs that are growing in the nose or sinus cavities can climb up the eustachian tube and enter the middle ear to start growing.
Untreated, ear infections can lead to more serious complications, including mastoiditis (a rare inflammation of a bone adjacent to the ear), hearing loss, perforation of the eardrum, meningitis, facial nerve paralysis, and possibly -- in adults -- Meniere's disease.

Causes of an ear infection

The most common cause of an ear infection is an upper respiratory viral infection, such as a cold or the flu. These disorders can make the eustachian tube so swollen that air can longer flow into the middle ear. Allergies -- to pollen, dust, animal dander, or food -- can produce the same effect as a cold or flu, as can smoke, fumes, and other environmental toxins. Bacteria can cause an ear infection directly, but usually these organisms come on the heels of a viral infection or an allergic reaction, quickly finding their way into the warm, moist environment of the middle ear.

Prevention

You may be able to prevent your child from getting middle ear infections by:

Ears and Airplane Travel, Ear Wax, and Ear Cleaning

Ears and air travel :

The experience of "popping" ears when flying on an airplane is the most common medical complaint of airplane passengers. Due to an air pocket in the middle ear that is sensitive to air pressure changes, the changing altitude as the plane takes off or lands can cause discomfort in the ears.
Swallowing or yawning usually can help "pop" the ears (activating the muscle that opens the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear with the nasopharynx) and ease the discomfort. However, ears that are already blocked (by a cold, for example) cannot equalize the air pressure in the middle ear adequately, therefore, creating a vacuum that sucks the eardrum in and stretches it. When the eardrum cannot vibrate, sound is muffled and the stretched eardrum can be very painful.
If swallowing or yawning do not relieve the ears, the American Academy of Otolaryngologists recommends trying the following ear-clearing technique:

Small children are especially vulnerable to blocked ear canals because their Eustachian tubes are narrower. Use of a bottle or pacifier during take-off and landing may help pop their ears.

What is ear wax?

Earwax, also called cerumen, is naturally produced by the outer part of the ear canal to keep the ear clean. It performs this task by trapping dust and sand particles before they reach the eardrum. Wax also coats the fragile skin of the ear canal and acts as a water repellent. Accumulated wax usually migrates to the ear opening, dries up, and falls out.

How should ears be properly cleaned?

Normally, ears canals are self-cleaning and should not need cleaning with any devices or cotton-tipped applicators. Cleaning the ear can cause problems by pushing the ear wax deeper into the ear canal and against the eardrum. However, sometimes wax can accumulate excessively, resulting in a blocked ear canal. In the case of a blocked ear canal, consult your physician. He/she may recommend one or more of the following:

Always consult your physician for a diagnosis and for additional information.

Hearing Aids

What are hearing aids ?

Nearly 36 million adults in the U.S. have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids can help improve hearing and speech especially in persons with sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss in the inner ear due to damaged hair cells or a damaged hearing nerve). Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by virus or bacteria, noise, injury, infection, aging, certain medications, birth defects, tumors, problems with blood circulation or high blood pressure, and stroke.
Hearing aids are electronic or battery-operated devices that can amplify and change sound. A microphone receives the sound and converts it into sound waves. The sound waves are then converted into electrical signals.

What are the different types of hearing aids ?

The type of hearing aid recommended for the individual depends on the person's home and work activities, his/her physical limitations and medical condition, and personal preference. There are many different types of hearing aids on the market, with companies continuously inventing newer, improved hearing aids every day. However, there are four basic types of hearing aids available today. Consult your physician for additional information on each of the following types:

Who may be a candidate for hearing aids ?

Anyone who has hearing loss that may be improved with hearing aids can benefit from these devices. The type of hearing aid recommended may depend on several factors, including, but not limited to:

Taking care of hearing aids :

Hearing aids need to be kept dry. Methods for cleaning hearing aids vary depending on the style and shape. Other tips for taking care of hearing aids include:

Considerations when purchasing a hearing aid :

A medical examination is required before purchasing a hearing aid. Hearing aids can be purchased from an otolaryngologist (a physician who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck), an audiologist (a specialist who can evaluate and manage hearing and balance problems), or an independent company. Styles and prices vary greatly. Consider the following questions when buying hearing aids:

AYURVEDA FOR EAR INFECTIONS

Ayurveda has much to offer in the way of gentle, natural remedies for ear infections

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NOSE

How do I get a broken nose?

You can break your nose during play, sports, accidents, fights, and falls. But it may be hard to tell if your nose is broken. Swelling can make your nose look crooked even if it is not broken. When the swelling goes down after a few days, it is easier to tell if your nose is really crooked and possibly broken.

What are the symptoms ?
Symptoms of a broken nose include:

Possible complications of a broken nose include :

How is a broken nose diagnosed?

A broken nose is diagnosed through a physical examination and medical history. An X-ray of the nose is not usually needed or helpful if only a broken nose is suspected. If other facial injuries or fractures are suspected, a CT scan will be done. Your doctor may wish to delay evaluation until the swelling has gone down. This may take several days.

How is it treated ?

Immediately after the fracture, apply ice and keep your head elevated. You may need pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol). Do not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or aspirin, for 48 hours after a nose injury. Do not take aspirin if you are younger than 20 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.
Immediate treatment is needed for some injuries that occur with a broken nose, such as:

Treatment, if needed, usually is done within 7 to 14 days of breaking your nose. Most broken noses do not require treatment other than controlling pain and other symptoms.

Sinusitis

What are sinuses?

The sinuses are cavities, or air-filled pockets, that are near the nasal passage. The sinuses make mucus, which is a fluid that cleans the bacteria and other particles out of the air we breathe. There are four different types of sinuses:

What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses near the nose. These infections usually occur after a cold or after an allergic inflammation. There are four types of sinusitis:

What causes sinusitis ?

Sometimes, a sinus infection happens after an upper respiratory infection (URI) or common cold. The URI causes inflammation of the nasal passages that can lead to obstruction of the opening of the paranasal sinuses, which can lead to infection in the sinuses. Allergic disease can also lead to sinusitis because of the swelling of the nasal tissue and increased production of mucus. There are other possible conditions that can block the normal flow of secretions out of the sinuses and can lead to sinusitis. These may include:

After the blockage of the flow of secretions from the sinuses, bacteria will sometimes begin to grow. This leads to a sinus infection, or sinusitis. The most common bacteria that cause sinusitis are:

What are the symptoms of sinusitis ?

The symptoms of sinusitis vary for each person, and depend greatly on the age of the individual. The following are the most common symptoms of sinusitis. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
Younger children:

Older children and adults:

The symptoms of sinusitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.

How is sinusitis diagnosed ?

Usually, your physician can diagnosis sinusitis based on your symptoms and physical examination. In some situations, additional tests may be performed to confirm the diagnosis. These may include:

Treatment for sinusitis:

Specific treatment will be determined by your physician based on:

Treatment of sinusitis may include the following:

Decongestants and antihistamines do not seem to help the symptoms of sinusitis.

Antibiotics may be withheld for 10 to 14 days, unless severe symptoms develop, such as fever, facial pain or tenderness, or swelling around the eye. Surgery should be considered only if other treatments have failed.

Referral to an allergist/immunologist is often needed, particularly for people with chronic or recurrent sinusitis and for patients who have had sinus surgery, but who still experience sinusitis.

AYURVEDA FOR NASAL BLOCK

Drugs like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antihistamines, and decongestants are usually recommended for nasal block. If an infant is unable to breathe because of a plugged nose, a nasal aspirator may be useful to remove the mucus. However, ayurvedic treatment for nose block has gained popularity because it is readily available and devoid of side effects. Ayurvedic treatment for nose block includes various ayurvedic remedies which are easy to adopt and are very effective too.

Along with the above mentioned ayurvedic treatment for nose block, it is also recommended to incorporate certain life style changes.

NOSE BLEEDING AND AYURVEDIC TREATMENT

Guidelines

Ayurvedic Remedies

Throat

Sore Throat

Sore throats can be painful and annoying. Fortunately, most sore throats are caused by a minor illness and go away without medical treatment.
Several conditions can cause a sore throat.

Viral infections
Many sore throats are caused by a viral illness, such as:

Bacterial infections
A bacterial infection may also cause a sore throat. This can occur from:

Irritants and injuries
A sore throat that lasts longer than a week is often caused by irritants or an injuries, such as:

Treatment for a sore throat depends on the cause. You may be able to use home treatment to obtain relief.
Because viral illnesses are the most common cause of a sore throat, it is important not to use antibiotics to treat them. Antibiotics do not alter the course of viral infections. Unnecessary use of an antibiotic exposes you to the risks of an allergic reaction and antibiotic side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and yeast infections. Antibiotics also may kill beneficial bacteria and encourage the development of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Tonsillitis

What is tonsillitis?
Tonsillitis is an infection or inflammation of the tonsils . The tonsils are balls of lymphatic tissue on both sides of the throat, above and behind the tongue. They are part of the immune system, which helps the body fight infection.
Tonsillitis often goes away on its own after 4 to 10 days.

What causes tonsillitis?
Most often, tonsillitis is caused by a virus. Less often, it is caused by the same bacteria that cause strep throat. In rare cases, a fungus or a parasite can cause it.
Tonsillitis is spread through the air in droplets when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. You may then become infected after breathing in these droplets or getting them on your skin or on objects that come in contact with your mouth, nose, or eyes.

What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat. The throat and tonsils usually look red and swollen. The tonsils may have spots on them or pus that covers them completely or in patches. Fever is also common.
If you feel like you have a cold, with symptoms such as runny and stuffy nose, sneezing, and coughing, a virus is most likely the cause.
If you have a sore throat plus a sudden and severe fever and swollen lymph nodes , but you do not have symptoms of a cold, the infection is more likely caused by bacteria. This means you need to see a doctor and probably need a strep test.

How is tonsillitis diagnosed ?
Your doctor will look at your throat to see if you have red and swollen tonsils with spots or sores. These signs can mean you have tonsillitis.
Your doctor may do a rapid strep test along with a throat culture. These will show whether the tonsillitis is caused by streptococcus bacteria.
Your doctor may also ask about past throat infections. If you get tonsillitis often, it may affect the choice of treatment.
You may have a test for mononucleosis if your doctor thinks that you have mono.

How is it treated?
Tonsillitis caused by a virus will usually go away on its own. Treatment focuses on helping you feel better. You may be able to ease throat pain if you gargle with salt water, drink warm tea, take over-the-counter pain medicine, and use other home treatments. Do not give aspirin to anyone age 20 or younger. It is linked to a serious disease called Reye syndrome.
If your tonsillitis is caused by strep, you need treatment with antibiotics. Antibiotics can help prevent rare but serious problems caused by strep and can control the spread of infection.
As a rule, doctors only advise surgery to remove tonsils (tonsillectomy) when there are serious problems with the tonsils. These include infections that happen again and again, or long-lasting infections that do not get better after treatment and get in the way of daily activities.

Laryngitis

What is laryngitis ?

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box, or larynx, that causes your voice to become raspy or hoarse.
Laryngitis can be short-term or long-lasting (chronic). Most of the time, it comes on quickly and lasts no more than 2 weeks.

What causes laryngitis ?

Snoring

What is snoring?
Snoring is the sound that occurs during sleep when flow of air is obstructed in the area where the tongue and upper throat meet the soft palate and uvula. Snoring noises occur when these structures vibrate against each other during breathing.
It is estimated that 45 percent of all adults snore occasionally, and 25 percent habitually snore. Snoring is more common in males and people who are overweight, and worsens with age.
Snoring is obstructed breathing. In addition to disturbed sleep patterns and sleep deprivation, other serious health problems may result. Snoring may also be a symptom of other medical conditions.

What causes snoring?
Snoring may be caused by many factors, including:

Can snoring be prevented ?
Mild or occasional snoring may be helped by:

Heavy or chronic snoring may require medical care.

Treatment for snoring:
Specific treatment for snoring will be determined by your physician based on:

Treatment may include a nasal mask that provides continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or surgery.

Smell and Taste Disorders (Chemosensory Disorders)

Senses of Smell and Taste

The processes of smelling and tasting are complex. They begin when molecules are released by substances that stimulate the sensory cells in the nose, mouth, or throat.
Olfactory nerve cells are stimulated by odors. They are found in tissue located high inside the nose, and connect directly to the brain.
Gustatory nerve cells are stimulated by the taste of food and beverage. They are located in the taste buds of the mouth and throat.
These sensory cells transmit messages to the brain through the nerves, where specific tastes and smells are identified.
Another chemosensory process, called common chemical sense, also contributes to smell and taste. These cells alert the brain to sensations such as heat (as from peppers) or cool (as from menthol).

How do taste and smell interact ?

The four basic taste sensations are sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.
When these tastes, along with texture, temperature, and information from the common chemical sense, combine with odors, the perception of flavor occurs. Flavor defines the food that is eaten, and is recognized mainly through the sense of smell.
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

What are smell and taste disorders ?

The loss of the senses of smell (anosmia) and taste (ageusia) are the most common chemosensory disorders.
The reduced ability to smell (hyposmia) or to taste sweet, sour, bitter or salty substances (hypogeusia) are also common.
In other disorders of the chemosenses, odors, tastes, or flavors may be misread or distorted, causing a person to detect an unpleasant odor or taste from something that is normally pleasant to taste or smell. These disorders are important because they can have a significant impact on quality of life and be a sign of underlying disease.
Smell disorders are serious because they damage the early warning system that can alert a person to such things as:

Abnormalities in taste and smell can accompany or indicate the existence of diseases or conditions such as:

What causes smell and taste disorders ?

Although some people are born with chemosensory disorders, most are caused by:

How are smell and taste disorders diagnosed?

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures may include:

Treatment for smell and taste disorders:

Specific treatment for smell and taste disorders will be determined by your physician based on:

Treatment may include:

Ayurveda’s Way

Ayurveda treats tonsillitis by fighting the condition from the roots, and by fortifying the body against future attacks. Ayurveda does not have a standard treatment for illness. Rather, an individual’s constitution is carefully studied, and the treatment and medicines are formulated specifically for that person. Ayurvedic physicians consider recurring infection and inflammation of the tonsils to be a key factor in illness in later life. Therefore, the entire immune system is treated. One of the herbal medicines given is a tablet called Khadiraadi vati. It is made up entirely of the roots, flowers and bark of certain medicinal plants. The tablet has to be kept in the mouth and chewed slowly. Another powder Sitopalaady choorna is also prescribed. It is a mixture of cinnamon, cardamom, long pepper, bamboo shoots and powdered sugar, dried and ground into a fine powder in a specific proportion. It is considered to be an effective bronchodilator and expectorant, which allows phlegm to be coughed up. To develop immunity, a paste that has to be mixed with honey, known as Agastya Rasayana, is very effective. It is a herbal tonic.

The Routine for Relief

There are several Ayurvedic home remedies for tonsillitis. Gargle with water in which fenugreek seeds have been boiled and have hot tea with honey whenever the symptoms of tonsillitis first appear. Hot fomentation on the front of the neck twice or thrice daily helps in decongestion. Another Ayurvedic home remedy for tonsillitis is cutting a lemon into half and then pressing salt and black pepper into it. Then heat the lemon and suck all the juice from it- the tart, salty and peppery taste is very soothing. Generally speaking, you should take care to see that all spicy foods, ice creams or cold desserts, and even very hot foods are avoided .Many parents have found these remedies to be extremely effective, and are happy that their children are not missing so many days of school anymore … and they give the credit to Ayurveda!

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