David Kasle

Most ear, nose, and throat problems are annoying, not dangerous. A blocked nose, a sore throat, an ear that feels full after a cold, these resolve on their own or with simple treatment. The trouble is that a small number of ENT symptoms look almost identical to the harmless ones in their first hours, and those are the ones where waiting costs you. Sudden hearing loss is the clearest example. It often feels like a plugged ear from wax or congestion, so people wait it out. But the NIDCD...

Ear infections are one of the most common reasons adults and children seek medical care, and they are not all the same. An infection can affect the outer ear canal, the middle ear behind the eardrum, or, more rarely, the inner ear, and each type has different causes, symptoms, and treatments. Knowing which part of the ear is involved is the first step toward the right treatment. This guide explains the difference between outer, middle, and inner ear infections, what causes them (including...

Tinnitus is the perception of a sound, most often ringing, that has no external source, so no one else can hear it. It is very common: the NIDCD estimates that 10 to 25% of adults have tinnitus. For many people it comes and goes, but when it lasts three months or longer it is considered chronic. That ringing, buzzing, roaring, or hissing is usually a symptom, not a disease in itself. Understanding what's driving it, whether it's noise exposure, hearing changes, sinus and ear pressure, or...