Darius Kohan, MD

08/06/2025

Dr. Kohan provides individualized patient care using the latest innovative treatments and technology in all aspects of ENT with a special focus on complex ear and hearing disorders.

Dr. Kohan's practice includes treatment for the following: https://dariuskohanmd.com/treatments

07/27/2025

Swimmer’s ear (also known as otitis externa) is different from a typical ear infection. Swimmer’s ear is an infection in the outer part of the ear – the ear canal. It happens when water gets trapped in your ear canal – especially lake, pond or ocean water. That little bit of water is a great place for bacteria to hang out and multiply, causing an infection.

In the medical world, your ENT calls it otitis (“ear infection”) externa (“external”). Most of the time, it’s painful and can cause inflammation and irritation.

However, this isn’t the same as a traditional ear infection. Those infections are in the middle ear – on the other side of the ear drum. Swimming does not cause a middle ear infection if the eardrum is otherwise healthy.

Despite its name, swimmer’s ear is not just for swimmers. All it takes to develop otitis externa is water getting trapped in the ear canal. This can be from swimming, bathing or showering, or simply spending time in humid environments. It doesn’t happen to everyone—and it doesn’t happen only to swimmers.

07/21/2025

Did you know: Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin C, along with those with anti-inflammatory properties, can help support sinus health and provide sinus relief. Spicy foods can also provide temporary relief by thinning mucus and promoting drainage.

Citrus fruits, garlic, ginger, leafy greens, coconut water and turmeric are very high on this list. 🥬🍊🫚🧄

07/17/2025

To Q-tip or not to Q-tip?

It has been recommended that you should avoid using Q-tips to clean inside of your ears because they can actually push earwax deeper into the ear canal, potentially causing impaction, injury, or infection. Earwax naturally cleans the ear, and Q-tips disrupt this process and can cause damage to the delicate ear canal and eardrum.

Here’s why Q-tips are not recommended for ear cleaning:
👂🏼Earwax impaction: Q-tips can push earwax further into the ear canal, leading to a buildup and blockage, which can cause hearing loss, pain, and ringing in the ears.
👂🏼Injury to the ear canal and eardrum: The ear canal is delicate, and Q-tips can easily scratch or puncture the skin or eardrum, leading to pain, bleeding, or even hearing loss.
👂🏼Infection risk: Q-tips can introduce bacteria or fungi into the ear canal, increasing the risk of infection.
👂🏼Disrupts natural cleaning: The ear canal has a natural process of cleaning itself, and Q-tips disrupt this process, potentially leading to excessive wax buildup.
👂🏼Q-tip packaging warnings: Many Q-tip manufacturers explicitly state on their packaging that they are not for use in the ear canal.

Instead of using Q-tips, it’s recommended to gently clean the outer ear with a washcloth or seek professional help for excessive wax buildup with your ENT professional.

07/14/2025

Summer ear infections, also known as swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), are more common in the summer due to increased water exposure and warm, moist conditions. This condition is an inflammation and infection of the outer ear canal, often caused by bacteria or fungi that thrive in trapped moisture.

Dealing with a swimmer’s ear infection just once is enough to make you wary of the pool or your next hangout by the lake, even on those steamy days when you could really use a cool dip. The “excruciating” ear pain, muffled hearing, and intense itchiness it can trigger are no joke.

07/11/2025

Acoustic neuroma, which is actually a vestibular schwannoma (VS), is a benign, non-cancerous growth on the vestibular (balance) nerve that affects approximately 1 in 100,000 people. Although VS is a tumor of the sheath of the vestibular nerve (schwannoma and not neuroma; vestibular and not acoustic), it has been incorrectly called AN for over 100 years and both names are now considered acceptable. It arises in the middle of the internal auditory canal (IAC) – the bony canal of approximately 1 centimeter in length that transmits the facial nerve, the acoustic (hearing) nerve, and both the inferior and superior vestibular (balance) nerves between the brainstem and the inner ear.

The VS can grow outwards and deep, filling the IAC, and displacing the brainstem by gentle encroachment as it grows slowly. Vestibular Schwannoma (AN) is a slow-growing tumor. It can present with hearing loss, especially difficulty understanding words, but patients can also have normal hearing. Even though it is a growth on the balance nerve, patients rarely complain of dizziness or imbalance until the tumor becomes very large. It is often discovered on routine head MRI scan.

Tammie Warren had hearing loss in one ear and an acoustic neuroma in the other. Surgery at UC San Diego Health prevented her from going deaf.

07/07/2025

Study shows hearing aids and cochlear implants make people more sociable and confident, improving overall well-being!

A new study from Keck Medicine of USC is the first to link hearing aids and cochlear implants to improved social lives among adults with hearing loss. 

07/02/2025

To ensure ear, nose, and throat health during the summer months, focus on preventing infections and irritations. Key strategies include keeping ears dry after swimming, managing allergies, and protecting yourself from loud noises and pollutants.

For Your Ears:
-Prevent Swimmer’s Ear:
Dry ears thoroughly after swimming or showering. Tilt your head to drain water and consider using earplugs or over-the-counter drying drops if prone to infections.
-Protect from Loud Noises:
Wear earplugs or earmuffs at concerts, fireworks displays, or when using power tools.

For Your Nose and Throat:
-Stay Hydrated:
Drink plenty of water to keep mucous membranes moist and less susceptible to infection.
-Manage Allergies:
Limit outdoor activities during peak pollen times, keep windows closed, and consider using air purifiers.
-Avoid Irritants:
Limit exposure to smoke, strong perfumes, and air pollution. Use a humidifier in dry climates.
-Nasal Rinses:
Rinse your nasal passages with saline solution to help remove irritants and allergens.

Protect Your Hearing:
-Be aware of noise levels and take breaks from loud environments to prevent hearing damage.

06/26/2025

The sound of your voice is produced by vibration of the vocal folds, which are two bands of smooth muscle tissue that are positioned opposite each other in the larynx. The larynx is located between the base of the tongue and the top of the trachea, which is the passageway to the lungs.

Many people use their voices for their work. Singers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, sales people, and public speakers are among those who make great demands on their voices. This puts them at risk for developing voice problems. An estimated 17.9 million adults in the U.S. report problems with their voice. Some of these disorders can be avoided by taking care of your voice.

On this page:

06/24/2025

The COVID-19 variant that may be driving a recent rise in cases in some parts of the world has earned a new nickname: “razor blade throat” COVID. That’s because the variant — NB.1.8.1. or “Nimbus” — may cause painful sore throats. The symptom has been identified by doctors all over the world.

Other COVID-19 symptoms of any variant include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell. Experts say there isn’t major cause for concern with the Nimbus variant, but here ‘s what else you need to know about it:

😫 You aren’t likely to get sicker from this variant than others. Not so far, anyway.
😫 The WHO said some western Pacific countries have reported increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations, but there’s nothing so far to suggest that the disease associated with the new variant is more severe compared to other variants.
😫 A ‘razor blade throat’ is a very descriptive term describing severe sore throat pain — as if their throat is covered with razor blades — (like) with various viral infections. While not specific to COVID-19, this expression has been used to describe sore throat symptoms in some patients with the most recent COVID-19 variant.

Sore throat has been known to be one of the first signs of this new COVID-19 infection — and now a specific version of the symptom, referred to as “razor blade throat,” is being associated with the newest COVID strain, called NB.1.8.1.

However, a severe sore throat can be a sign of many different illnesses, so it’s important to take precautions if you experience this symptom this summer, experts say.

06/13/2025

What is Neurotology? Neurotology or neuro-otology is a branch of clinical medicine which studies and treats neurological disorders of the ear. It is a subspecialty of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and is closely related to otology, and also draws on the fields of neurology and neurosurgery.

Dr. Kohan is both the Associate Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology at New York University School of Medicine, Director of Otology/Neurotology at Lenox Hill Hospital/Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital (MEETH). He is involved in educating medical students and residents at these institutions. In addition, he is involved in several research projects in Otology/Neurotology.

06/03/2025

Are you constantly clearing your throat? It may be more serious than you think!

It may just be an annoyance, but the underlying root cause may be the big deal. For most, chronic throat clearing may be related to relatively minor issues like nasal allergies, effect of diet, it can even be behavioral! We manage based on effect on quality of life.

Here is a list of root causes that can cause throat clearing that should definitely be treated:
-Asthma
-Pneumonia
-Nasal polyps
-CS (cerebrospinal fluid) leak
-Throat cancer
-Vocal cord Paralysis
-Angioedema
-Tracheal stenosis
-Esophageal cancer
-Barrett’s esophagus

Be sure to share this with a friend or loved one who regularly throat clears!