Otic Disorders
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that affects hearing and balance. It is named after the French physician Prosper Ménière, who first described the syndrome in 1861. This debilitating disease is characterized by episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, fluctuations in hearing, and aural fullness. The exact cause of Ménière's disease is not known and there is no FDA approved drug treatment.
For additional information please follow the links below:
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Washington University School of Medicine
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is distinguished by unilateral deafness occurring with rapid onset (<72 hours). Presenting symptoms frequently include tinnitus and aural fullness. Etiologies are known for a subset of patients, however the majority of cases are idiopathic in origin. There is no approved drug treatment for this condition.
For additional information please follow the link below:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Exposure to excessive noise is the most frequent identifiable cause of hearing loss with up to 15% of the population affected. Certain occupations carry a high risk of permanent impairment including construction, manufacturing, mining, forestry, farming, and transportation. Furthermore, hearing loss is the leading disability suffered by members of the armed forces. There is no approved drug to treat patients at risk for noise-induced hearing loss.
For additional information please follow the links below:
CDC – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Age-related hearing impairment, also known as presbycusis, is the most common sensory deficit. The National Institute of Health estimates that 30-35% of all adults between the ages of 65 and 75 and 40-50% over the age of 75 have significant hearing impairment. While the cause of presbycusis is not known, a number of factors are believed to play a strong role including genetic predisposition and cumulative exposure to excessive noise or acoustic trauma. There is no approved drug treatment for this condition.
For additional information please follow the links below:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Otitis media is defined as an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. It is typically the result of a viral, bacterial or respiratory infection that spreads into the middle ear. This condition is extremely common during childhood. By age three, over 75 percent of children will have suffered from otitis media and more than half of these children will experience recurrent ear infections. It is estimated that the medical costs and associated lost wages due to otitis media amount to $5 billion a year in the United States alone. Oral antibiotics are frequently prescribed for the treatment of otitis media although therapeutic benefit is limited and the risk of inducing systemic resistance is high. Patients with persistent or recurrent disease are often treated using a surgical procedure to insert tubes through the tympanic membrane which allows the localized delivery of antibiotics and/or anti-inflammatory drugs to the middle ear.
For additional information please follow the link below:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
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