Ear, nose, and throat Archive

Having conversations in restaurants and other noisy places can be challenging for people with hearing loss. Strategic seating and using devices such as hearing aids (adjusted to reduce background noise) or a remote microphone can help people follow and engage in conversations.

Hearing aids amplify sound and can improve communication for most people with hearing loss. They come in several styles and offer different features, so you can choose an option that fits your preferences, technology comfort level, and degree of hearing loss. Hearing aids are available by prescription or over the counter; over‑the‑counter options include certain types of earbuds.

Not only is our face our calling card to the world, its features evolved to mount immune system defenses, help ward off illness, and protect us in many ways. Our eyes, nose, mouth, and facial structure itself all contribute to our continued well-being.

Wearing earplugs helps protect the inner ears from loud sounds that can damage hearing. It should be safe to wear earplugs frequently—as long as they are clean and inserted properly, they aren’t causing earwax buildup or pain, and they aren’t used to avoid non-threatening everyday noise.

Stuffy nose and sneezing caused by allergies can narrow airways and disrupt sleep, sometimes fueling snoring and even sleep apnea. Targeted treatment may help.

People who lose their sense of smell due to a virus or another cause are advised to begin smell retraining therapy as soon as possible. The therapy involves sniffing a wide variety of odor-generating elements, such as lemons or oranges, flowery perfumes, peanut butter, eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, pine, peppermint, or cloves. Each material should be sniffed once or twice a day, for 30 seconds to two minutes. While sniffing, it helps to think about the scent and recall moments of smelling it in the past. This process helps trigger odor particle recognition, which is deeply seated in the brain and must be stimulated to re-establish function.

When you have a cold, it's normal to feel mucus sitting at the back of your throat, and to have the urge to clear it. Typically this sensation lasts just a few days, but what happens if it lingers for weeks or months?

A constant drip in the back of your throat isn’t always from a cold. Saline rinses, humid air, and cautious decongestant use may all help put an end to postnasal drip.

Most nosebleeds can be controlled without a hospital visit. Learn the key at-home step that helps stop bleeding fast and when to seek care.