Metropolitan NeuroEar Group

01/09/2023

10/24/2022

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous Diwali celebration!

08/30/2022

At Metropolitan Neuro Ear Group, we value continued education and product trainings so we always stay up to date on the latest technology in hearing healthcare. We were in training last week but we are back and ready to bring you the best options to treat your hearing loss.

06/21/2022

Allergy season continues on and your oral antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec) may not be cutting it. There is another option to manage your allergies long-term.

Once you come to our clinic, our allergy specialist will perform an allergy test to determine what is causing all of that sneezing, sniffling, and clogged sensations. Once the allergens are identified, immunotherapy may be recommended based on your test results.

What is immunotherapy (IT)?
IT is designed to build tolerance to the allergens you are sensitive to, so that over time you will become less symptomatic when exposed. This is done via injections of extracts from the allergens, inducing the body's immune cells to decrease or prevent symptoms.

IT is covered by most insurance carriers and the treatment is most effective when completed over 3 years. If you suffer from allergies, seasonal or year-round, consider coming in for an allergy test and to discuss treatment options such as IT.

05/12/2022

Ear Infections & Treatment Options

There are different types of ear infections that have different treatment options, so it is important for your ENT to identify the correct type.

1. Otitis Externa ("swimmer's ear") - This is an infection in the ear canal/outer ear. It is often very painful, produces discharge that drains out of your ear, and typically has a strong odor. Treatment: drops prescribed by your doctor, and keeping the ear as dry as possible.

2. Otitis Media (OM) - this is an ear infection that develops BEHIND the eardrum. There are different categories of otitis media:

- OM with effusion (also called serous): fluid and mucus accumulate in the middle ear space. There may be some fullness or reduced hearing but generally no severe pain. Often an over the counter medicine like Claritin is prescribed to keep your eustachian tube open so the fluid can drain naturally.

- Acute OM: this is a painful ear infection that causes swelling and redness in the middle ear space. Symptoms include pain, fever, hearing loss, and pus behind the eardrum. Treatment: some doctors wait to see if the infection resolves on its own, while others prescribe antibiotics right away.

- Chronic OM: fluid remains in the middle ear for a prolonged period or returns again and again. This can impact hearing long-term. Treatment includes antibiotics or sometimes pressure equalization (PE) tubes, which prevent the build up of fluid behind the eardrum.

The diagram below outlines the outer, middle, and inner ear so that you can identify where each ear infection occurs.

04/18/2022

Dizzy patients, look here!

Last time we talked about just one cause of dizziness (BPPV) and the quick and easy way it can be treated. However, there are other disorders that require longer term treatment.

One such disorder is called vestibular neuritis. This occurs when the vestibular nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain becomes inflamed, typically due to a virus. You may experience SUDDEN severe vertigo, nausea, vomiting, imbalance, and difficulty concentrating. Symptoms may last a few days with gradual recovery, but some people experience residual symptoms for months and require vestibular therapy. This is a type of physical therapy that focuses on retraining the brain to compensate so you can move in a more stable fashion.

If you experience any type of dizziness/imbalance/vertigo, come chat with Dr. Prasad about your symptoms and how we can help.

03/28/2022

What do you know about dizziness?

Many people associate dizziness with the term "vertigo."
Vertigo is actually just one type of symptom; specifically, a sensation that you or the room is spinning. If you feel unsteady or a sense of imbalance, this is actually considered disequilibrium, not vertigo.

There are many different causes of vertigo and disequilibrium. Today we will focus on vertigo and one of it's most common causes: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

If you have ever felt yourself spinning after turning over in bed or bending over, it is possibly due to BPPV. This occurs when "crystals" get displaced in the ear and stimulate the wrong region, creating the perception of spinning even if your body is no longer moving. This often occurs spontaneously or after head trauma. A visit to the ENT can easily diagnose whether you have BPPV, which can be quickly fixed with specific head maneuvers completed by the doctor.

If you feel like you have vertigo or disequilibrium, call our clinic at 301-493-9409 to find out what the source of your dizziness is, and how we can treat it.

02/24/2022

Protecting your ears from hazardous noise NOW is essential to prevention of hearing loss later. In honor of World Hearing Day coming up on March 3rd, here is some great information on how you can protect yourselves and your kiddos.

02/11/2022

Are allergies getting in the way of giving flowers to your one true love for Valentine’s Day? These flowers are allergy-friendly: Daffodil, Iris, Lily, Rose, Tulip.