Demystifying the Big Day: A Guide to Cochlear Implant Activation
The cochlear implant activation represents a significant clinical milestone for patients and their families, marking the formal transition from surgical recovery to the beginning of auditory rehabilitation. This guide provides a formal overview of the procedural expectations, technical requirements and the complex auditory transitions associated with this critical phase of the patient’s journey toward sound. […]
Is Your Medication Harming Your Hearing? A Comprehensive Guide to Ototoxic Medications
When we take prescribed medications to heal from an illness, the last thing we expect is for our hearing to be negatively affected in the process. However, there is a surprisingly large group of ototoxic medications that can cause unintended damage to our delicate ears. Hello, I am Dr. Shree Rao, an ENT specialist, Hearing […]
The Neurodevelopmental Emergency: Why Early Hearing Loss Intervention Matters More Than You Think
Your newborn baby hasn’t even cried their first cry, yet their brain is already learning language. It sounds impossible, but neuroscience now confirms it: the critical period hearing development window for hearing and language development doesn’t start at birth; it started 24 weeks before your baby was born. This is why early hearing loss intervention […]
New Born Hearing Screening in C-section Babies
Welcoming a new baby into your family is a truly joyous occasion. Ensuring their overall health and well-being is our top priority. One crucial check during this time is the newborn hearing screening, especially important for babies born through a C-section. Hearing is absolutely vital for a baby to properly develop speech, language, and early […]
BERA Test for NICU Babies: Protect Your Baby’s Hearing Early
The birth of a child is a momentous occasion, but for parents of babies who require care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), it is also a time of heightened anxiety and complex medical decisions. Amidst the monitors and life-saving equipment, one specific screening often takes place that carries lifelong weight: the BERA Test […]
Fluid Behind Eardrum: Understanding Glue Ear vs. Ear Infections
If you have ever experienced a persistent “muffled” feeling in your ears – almost as if you are listening to the world underwater – you may be dealing with fluid behind eardrum. While this condition is extremely common in children, it also affects adults, particularly after a lingering cold, sinus infection, or allergy flare-up. I’m […]
Understanding Facial Palsy: The Ear–Face Connection Explained
Hello, I’m Dr. Shree Rao, an ENT specialist and ear specialist. Many patients are surprised to learn that facial palsy – which may present as a drooping smile, difficulty closing the eyelid, or facial asymmetry – is often closely linked to the ear and its intricate nerve pathways. Whether you’re a concerned parent noticing sudden […]
Slaps, Blasts, and Trauma: Immediate Care for a Ruptured Eardrum
It is perfectly natural to feel a sense of unease or even alarm when you experience a sudden ear injury or a ruptured eardrum. Whether it occurs during a heated sports match, a sudden loud blast, or an accidental slip with a cotton swab, the physical and emotional impact of ear trauma can be overwhelming. […]
Is Stapedectomy a Major Surgery? Procedure, Risks, Recovery & Success Rate
Hello, I’m Dr. Shree Rao. If you’re reading this, you may be considering a stapedectomy. This is recommended by doctors if the individual is struggling with hearing loss caused by a disorder called ‘otosclerosis’. Stapedectomy or stapes surgery is performed to remove the fixed, fused, or hardened stapes bone in the middle ear, which helps […]
Feeling Anxious About Cochlear Implant Surgery? Common Fears Explained
Hello, I’m Dr. Shree Rao. If you’re reading this, you may be exploring whether cochlear implant surgery could help you or a loved one. It is an important decision, and it’s completely natural to feel fear, uncertainty, and have many questions along the way. These concerns may range from worries about safety and pain to […]