Acoustic Neuroma: Benign Tumor that Affects Hearing
The most common causes of hearing loss in Charleston are aging, noise exposure, trauma and disease. Though less common, tumors called acoustic neuromas can also lead to hearing loss. Types of Acoustic Neuromas Acoustic neuromas are slow-growing tumors that form on the vestibular nerve. They are benign (non-cancerous), but if they grow big enough, they…
Can Surgery Reverse Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss affects roughly one in every five people in Charleston; it is usually—but not always—permanent. Depending on your type and degree of hearing impairment, a surgical procedure may successfully restore hearing ability. Which Types of Hearing Loss Can Be Corrected Surgically? Hearing loss can affect different parts of the ears. What is nerve deafness?…
Can Allergies Cause Hearing Loss?
Allergy sufferers in Charleston have to contend with a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Runny nose; itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; coughing and postnasal drip are all commonplace. A lesser-known possibility is hearing loss. What are Allergies? When the immune system encounters a substance that could potentially cause your body harm, it releases chemicals called histamines into…
How to Relieve Ear Pressure When You’re Sick
Summer is drawing to a close, which means cold and flu season is right around the corner. For people in Charleston, this can spell misery. A runny or stuff nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, muscle aches and fatigue are common symptoms. According to your audiologist, ear pain and pressure can also occur when you’re suffering from…
Hearing Loss & Heart Disease
Individuals in Summerville who have been diagnosed with heart disease have more to worry about than managing stress and sticking to a healthy diet. Data shows they are more likely to experience hearing loss, as well. How Does the Cardiovascular System Impact Hearing? Cardiovascular disease is the biggest cause of death in South Carolina; roughly…
The Link Between Antibiotics & Hearing Loss
Hearing loss in Charleston is usually the result of aging, noise exposure, disease or side effects of medications. There are more than 200 drugs that have been identified as ototoxic – that is, having an adverse effect on hearing. Many of these are antibiotics, but until recently, doctors didn’t know why these medications caused harm…
Hearing Aids May Delay Onset of Dementia
People with hearing loss in Charleston have a higher risk of developing a number of physical, social and psychological side effects. These include stress, anxiety, withdrawal, depression, memory loss and cognitive decline. Dementia is especially prevalent among adults with hearing loss, according to results from several large-scale studies. New research shows that hearing aids could…
Tips for Removing Water from Your Ears
Summertime in Charleston means you can reliably count on several things: painful sunburns, ants invading your picnic and water in your ears. Not that we don’t love the season – backyard barbecues alone are enough to make us wish the pleasant weather would last forever – but these can put a damper on an otherwise…
Can Untreated Hearing Loss Lead to Dementia?
If you’re a Beaufort resident with hearing loss, there are bigger risks than the embarrassment of misunderstanding a word here and a phrase there. True, your date might look at you funny if you pass her a lime instead of the wine, but in the overall scheme of things this is pretty minor. Bigger problems…
How to Recognize Hearing Loss in Infants
Hearing loss is difficult enough for adults to handle. It can be especially problematic in babies, who rely on their hearing from the moment they are born. Hearing plays a crucial role in a child’s social and emotional development and is necessary for their speech and language skills. Untreated hearing loss in infants can lead…