The owner's manual for ears.
Intricately shaped and amazingly sensitive, ears are the organs of
hearing and balance. When something goes wrong with the ears--whether
infection or cancer, eardrum perforation or hearing loss--our overall
well-being is generally disturbed.
In The Ear Book, Drs. Thomas J. Balkany and Kevin D. Brown, recognized
experts on ears and hearing, explain how the anatomy of the ear
facilitates hearing and balance and then examine the causes, symptoms,
and treatment of common problems of the outer, middle, and inner ear.
Their explanations take the mystery out of hearing aids, the proper care
of ears, and how the pressurized conditions of scuba diving and air
travel affect the ears. And they debunk ear-related myths--from the
notion that exposure to loud noise strengthens the ear to the idea that
tinnitus can be cured with nutrients--and urge readers to stop using ear
candling or Q-tips to get rid of wax.
Drs. Balkany and Brown address such common questions as: Can dizziness
be cured? How loud is too loud? Why do my ears ring? Do cochlear
implants work for nerve deafness? What promise do innovations in gene
therapy and stem cell therapy hold for the future? Fully illustrated and
including helpful tables, hearing preservation tips, a glossary of
terms, lists of ear medications and resources, and suggestions for
further reading, The Ear Book is sure to be a welcome family guide.