Audiology
Q: If I don’t like anything in my ear, how will I get along with a hearing aid in my ears?
A: Many hearing aids are made with a custom-fit earpiece, while others have just a small tube that goes into the ear canal. Most people don’t even realize they have their hearing aids on they are so comfortable.
Q: Will my insurance cover the cost of the hearing aids?
A: Most insurance companies do not cover hearing aids. Please check with your particular company to verify this. A hearing aid is considered a medical device so you may be able to obtain a tax credit/write off (check with your accountant for further details).
Q: Are you ever too young to get a hearing test?
A: We test hearing in people from birth to 100+ years using several types of hearing tests. Newborns can’t tell you when they hear the beep, so we use a test that tracks a reflex of the inner ear that tells us whether or not the hearing signal was received.
Nursing
Q: How can I stop a nosebleed?
A: Raise your head above the level of your heart, pinch your nose for ten minutes and apply ice packs to your neck and forehead. Call your doctor if the nosebleed doesn’t stop. If you have frequent nosebleeds, moisturize your nose often with saline nasal spray or saline gel (available at most drugstores) and get NasalCease to use as a packing. Follow the label directions. If these preventive measures don’t stop your nosebleeds, see your doctor to be sure you don’t have high blood pressure, a blood clotting problem, or a growth in the nose.
Q: When should I get antibiotics for my ear or sinus infection?
A: Since most ear and sinus infections are caused by viruses, which are not affected by antibiotics, the usual thing to do is to treat the symptoms with pain relievers, saline nasal spray, and/or decongestants for the first week. Most viruses will start to clear up in a week. Bacterial infections, on the other hand, continue beyond the first week or have more marked symptoms such as fever >101 or severe pain during the first week. Discolored nasal drainage can be due to viruses or bacteria, so that is not a way to decide whether or not antibiotics are necessary. It is important to not use antibiotics for viral infections because this can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in your system which can be a lot harder to get rid of.
Q: What does a skin cancer look like?
A: The most common type is basal cell carcinoma, which usually looks like a blemish that won’t heal after two weeks. The second most common type is squamous cell carcinoma, which often has some redness with flaking skin on the surface. Again, it lasts longer than two weeks. The third type is melanoma, which is usually brown to black. If one of these is bigger than a pencil eraser or is changing in size, thickness, or color, get it checked out. Any spot that is bleeding, itching, or causing pain should be checked.
