What Is Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Surgery?
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPP) is a surgery designed to help treat and prevent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA happens when the throat muscles relax during sleep and block airflow to the lungs. OSA can cause exhaustion, loud snoring and headaches and prevent you from enjoying a walk around Bicentennial Park without the lingering fogginess of a poor…
Why Does My Throat Hurt While Yawning?
It’s not uncommon to feel pain when swallowing or yawning when you have inflammation in your throat. Let’s look at a few common reasons why you might feel pain in your throat while yawning, as well as treatment options. Five Reasons Your Throat Hurts While Yawning Can Pain While Yawning Be a Sign of Something…
How Hearing Aids Use New Technology to Help You Hear Better in Crowds
Crowded places can be a difficult hearing environment for everyone and especially difficult for those with hearing loss. While hearing aids make it easier to pick up sounds in any environment, standard or older models still have some limitations in crowded places. The good news is that hearing aid technology is always advancing, and new…
What Are Common Causes of Throat Pain?
Throat pain is a very common symptom to experience. According to an article published in the journal BMJ Clinical Evidence, “About 10% of people present to primary healthcare services with sore throat each year.” Below we review some of the common causes of throat pain. Viral Infections If you get a viral infection like a…
Lauren Wake, Au.D., CCC-A
Dr. Lauren Wake earned her bachelor’s degree in speech-language and audiology from Southern Illinois University and her Doctor of Audiology from Ball State University. Her desire to pursue audiology stems from wanting to get more involved in the medical field and help people hear better. As a student, Dr. Wake even went out in her…
Technology May Put Kids & Teens at Risk for Hearing Loss
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “An estimated 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years (approximately 5.2 million) have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise.” A potential source of this noise exposure is the technology that entertains them. Below we review how loud sounds cause damage,…
How to Care for Your Child When They Have an Ear Infection
If your child experiences frequent ear infections, they’re not alone. According to a 2020 article, “About 50% of all children will have at least 1 ear infection by the time they reach their second birthday.” The reason children tend to experience them more often than adults is because their immune systems are less developed, and…
Common ENT Symptoms to Look Out for This Year
There are many conditions that can affect the ears, nose and throat. Some are more common than others. In this post, we review symptoms of the more common ENT conditions to look out for this year. Middle Ear Infections Middle ear infections are the result of fluid becoming trapped in the middle ear due to…
Ways To Relieve Sinus Pain
Sinus pain, or sinusitis, is a common condition. Nearly 15% of individuals surveyed in the National Health Interview Survey reported having had sinusitis the previous year. While sinusitis usually resolves itself within 10 days, the facial pressure, nasal congestion, and other symptoms can make for a really unpleasant week. If you’re currently suffering from sinus…
What Is Silent Reflux?
When people think about the symptoms of acid reflux, burning chest pain is typically the first one to come to mind. However, some people experience chronic reflux that occurs multiple times a week but never experience heartburn. This condition is referred to as laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), also known as silent reflux. What Causes Laryngopharyngeal Reflux?…