Otalgia or earache can occur for a multitude of reasons. The buildup of pressure in the eustachian tube is one of the top causes of earache. Usually the eustachian tube drains fluids out of the middle ear through the back of the throat. Sometimes a cold, allergy or sore throat can cause the eustachian tube to swell up and shut. Tonsillitis and sinus infections also result in earache, especially among children. Sometimes high altitudes or rapid change in altitude, as when flying, can cause earache.

 

Earache can be an indication of an obstruction of the ear canal with a foreign object or earwax. It also may also indicate a perforated or broken eardrum because of a blow to the head, infection in the inner ear, suction applied to the ear or the insertion of a foreign object into the ear. “Swimmer’s ear” is also a common ear infection. It is an infection of the outer ear structures and happens because water is trapped in the ear canal. Bacteria multiply in the ear canal, causing infection and irritation. In this case the treatment of earache requires treatment of the infection.

One of the most common injuries to the nose is a nasal fracture or broken nose. This usually is caused by blunt trauma to the nose (as in case where a baseball or elbow hits it). Swelling, bruising and bleeding may occur.

A nasal fracture is usually repaired by a closed reduction. This means that the nose is relocated into a normal position without an incision. Often times, it is difficult to evaluate a nasal fracture immediately after the injury due to the swelling that is present. Therefore, an ear, nose and throat specialist should do an evaluation about 4 to 5 days after the injury. Repair is best done within seven to ten days of injury.

You have to get your nose evaluated and examined immediately after the injury to ascertain whether septal hematoma is not present. Hematoma is a collection of blood that needs to be drained out. A septal hematoma however is the collection of blood in the septum, the partition of the nose that needs to be drained. If this is not done an abscess (infection) and a loss of cartilage may result.

Since their debut in the marketplace, iPods have revolutionized the way we listen to music. iPod hard drives store up to 300 hours of music, batteries last for 12 hours, and the volume can be cranked up to 120 decibels. That’s louder than a chain saw or pneumatic drill, and equivalent to a jet plane taking off! But iPod fans are being warned to turn their music down. Even manufacturer, Apple, includes a cautionary note with every iPod, warning, "permanent hearing loss may occur if earphones or headphones are used at high volume."

The purchase of a new hearing aid that can help with hearing conversation, the television, or the telephone is only the beginning of the process of aural rehabilitation. By the time you bring your new hearing aid home, you should have developed an understanding of what it can do to improve your particular hearing problems, based on your hearing tests and your discussions with your doctor and/or your hearing aid dispenser. And, as you now know, your hearing aid is only part of the long-term solution. There are changes that you can make, and requests that you can make of others, in order to further improve your ability to hear conversations on a day to day basis.

Bob Seger, Jeff Beck, Sting, Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton and Bob Dylan all have something in common. Their years of hard rocking have left a mark on more than just their fans -- after years of exposure to loud noise, they all now have hearing impairments.