Hearing & Tinnitus Management LLC

04/09/2026

Monthly Hearing Health Articles/By CQ Partners
The Hidden Reasons You Should Get Your Hearing Tested
Most people assume they’ll know when their hearing changes. They expect a sudden drop, a noticeable ringing, or a clear sign that something isn’t right. But hearing loss rarely works that way. In reality, the earliest changes are so subtle that your brain quietly fills in the gaps. By the time you notice a difference, your hearing may already have shifted significantly.
That’s why scheduling routine hearing tests is one of the most important, and most overlooked, steps in protecting your overall health.
Your Brain Picks Up the Slack (Until It Can’t)
Hearing isn’t just an ear issue; it’s a brain issue. When sound becomes harder to process, your brain starts working overtime to make sense of conversations, especially in noisy places. This extra effort can leave you mentally drained without you realizing why.
Over time, this strain can affect memory, focus, and cognitive sharpness. A hearing test gives you a clear picture of how your ears and brain are working together and whether your brain is compensating more than it should.
You Don’t Have to “Feel” Hearing Loss for It to Be There
Hearing changes happen slowly, often over many years. Because you hear a little less each day, your brain adjusts a little more each day. You may turn up the TV, lean closer during conversations, or avoid noisy restaurants without connecting these behaviors to your hearing. A routine hearing screening can uncover changes long before they disrupt your daily life.
Your Health Can Influence Your Hearing More Than You Think
Conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, all common in adults, can impact the delicate structures of the inner ear. Medications, high stress, and long-term noise exposure also play a role. Even if you feel completely fine today, these factors can cause subtle changes you won’t notice right away.
Regular hearing tests help you stay ahead of health-related changes and protect one of your most important senses.
A Hearing Test Gives You a Baseline for the Future
One of the most valuable parts of getting your hearing tested is establishing a baseline. Think of it as your personal hearing “starting point.” As the years go by, your provider can compare your results and instantly spot even small shifts.
Without a baseline, it’s much harder to know what’s truly changed—and whether those changes need attention.
Better Hearing Supports a Better Life
Clear hearing strengthens relationships, boosts confidence, and keeps you connected to the world around you. When you can fully engage in conversations and social activities, you experience lower stress and greater overall well-being.
At Hearing & Tinnitus Management, we specialize in tinnitus, hearing loss, hearing aids and hyperacusis Be proactive about your health by scheduling a hearing check-up today!

04/02/2026

Drugs That Can Cause Hearing Loss or Tinnitus

Many drugs cause side effects, including hearing loss, tinnitus (a sound heard in the ears or head) and balance problems such as dizziness. In fact, there are almost 200 medications linked to hearing loss and balance disorders, according to a review published in the medical journal Pharmacotherapy.

Medically, this is known as ototoxicity. (“oto” means ear and “toxic” means harmful). It’s also sometimes referred to as drug-induced hearing loss.

The severity of the hearing loss and tinnitus can vary widely, depending on the drug, the dosage, and how long you take it. In general, the risk for ototoxicity increases as the drug accumulates in your body. The hearing loss may be temporary or permanent.

Below are some types of medications that are linked to ototoxicity.

OTC and prescription pain relievers
Over-The Counter (OTC) pain relievers, such as aspirin, naproxen, and acetaminophen may cause hearing loss and tinnitus, but generally only after prolonged use of high doses.

Opioids
Any of the drugs that belong to the “opioid” class of medications are capable of causing sudden hearing loss and balance problems. This includes medications prescribed by a doctor and illicit drugs, such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, fentanyl, he**in, morphine, and methadone.

Antibiotics are drugs that are used specifically to treat bacterial infections. There are many different types of antibiotics, but a specific classification of antibiotics as aminoglycosides are linked to hearing loss. One of the more commonly used is Cortisporin, and Casporyn HC. Other antibiotic ear drops also contain aminoglycoside ingredients, such as neomycin.
These drugs tend to clear slowly from the fluids in the inner, and have been detected in inner ear fluid months after the final dose was given. This means it can cause hearing loss long after the drug was used, known as delayed-onset hearing loss. It may also make you more susceptible to noise-induced hearing loss.
Don't ignore hearing loss, schedule an appointment with Dr. Maresca & visit liaudiology.com for full article and more information.
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Receive compassionate care and advanced treatments for hearing loss, tinnitus, and hyperacusis. Serving Stony Brook and surrounding areas for 30+ years.

03/19/2026

Airplanes and Ear Pain

Most of us have experienced clogged ears or ear pain at some point during a flight. This condition is often referred to as “airplane ear.” More often than not, it occurs during takeoff or/and landing. For some people, it may just be a minor annoyance, but for others it can cause symptoms like severe pain and temporary hearing loss.

Why does airplane ear happen?
It all comes down to rapid fluctuations in air pressure. Normally the air pressure inside the middle ear and the air pressure outside are essentially the same, or at least not different enough to cause any trouble.
The pressure inside the middle ear and the air pressure outside don’t have time to equalize. This is known medically as ear barotrauma.

How to prevent ear pain when flying
Swallowing: When you fly, the trick is to ensure that the Eustachian tubes work overtime and open more frequently to accommodate the change in air pressure.
Chewing gum or sucking on hard candy: This will stimulate frequent swallowing which helps equalize air pressure.
Valsalva maneuver: With a mouthful of air, close your mouth and pinch your nostrils shut. Gently exhale and force air out until your ears pop. This is not recommended if you have a cold or allergies, as it could cause a severe ear infection.
Toynbee maneuver: Close your mouth and pinch your nose shut. Swallow several times until pressure equalizes. Repeat either technique as needed.

Drink lots of fluid both before and during the flight. Not only does this keep you hydrated, which reduces your risk of congestion, but it also means you’ll be swallowing and equalizing your ears regularly.
EarPlanes:Products like EarPlanes are specially designed ear plugs that have a filter that helps slow down the air pressure changes on the flight, which can put less stress on the eardrum, reducing feeling of pain and fullness.
Use decongestants: Over-the-counter nasal and oral decongestants narrow the blood vessels in the nasal passages and reduce or thin mucus, making it easier for air to flow through the Eustachian tubes. Before taking any decongestants, it is important to speak with your doctor, as people with certain heart conditions may want to avoid taking them.

Airplane ear is usually a minor annoyance that resolves on its own. However, it is important to see a doctor if your symptoms are severe or last for several days post-flight.

Safe travels & keep healthy!

Info from Healthy Hearing
Contributed by Joy Victory, managing editor

03/13/2026

Don't be suspicious today about your Hearing & Tinnitus!
Call to make an appointment to be clear about what can be done for your hearing health

01/22/2026

Research shows a significant association between hypertension/stress and tinnitus…especially in Baby Boomers. High levels of stress can cause sudden tinnitus. One study suggests that patients who reported stress due to either poor sleep, unhealthy lifestyles or excessive worrying had a higher likelihood of experiencing tinnitus.

Did you know that 75% of all doctor visits are stress related? We live in a very stressful society. Whether it’s a single stressful event, or the stress of being able to keep up with our everyday lives, the increased amount of stress will still affect the body in the same negative way. Too much stress results in too many chemicals, which can be very damaging to the patient’s overall health.

While no one can make their stress vanish, the good news is that as tinnitus treatment progresses, the connection between tinnitus and stress diminishes. You may still have a lot of stress but the tinnitus eventually will not increase as a result of that stress!

TINNITUS…
YOU DON’T HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT!

ENJOY LIFE AGAIN

Make an appointment today with Dr. Elena Maresca at Hearing & Tinnitus Management 631-780-HEAR (4327) in our Stony Brook location

01/15/2026

Hearing loss doesn’t just mean a person needs to turn up the TV. Hearing loss has been linked to a range of health problems, including dementia. The latest aging research not only shows the two are connected, it’s also leading scientists to believe that hearing loss may actually be a cause of dementia (John Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health). Hearing loss is now considered to be a top risk factor for dementia.

Hearing loss can make the brain work harder, forcing it to strain to hear and fill in the gaps. That comes at the expense of other thinking and memory systems. Another possibility is that untreated hearing loss causes the aging brain to shrink more quickly due to lack of stimulation. Hearing is a memory based system after all.

Treating hearing loss with hearing aids can improve so much in a person’s life. Much more than just being able to hear and understand better. Better hearing results in a decreased chance of dementia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, falls and depression.

Call Dr. Maresca today to help with all your hearing health at (631) 780-HEAR(4327)

01/08/2026

Dr. Maresca and the entire staff here at Hearing and Tinnitus Management would like to wish you a Happy and healthy New Year! The Holidays are always a time to gather with friends and family. They are filled with conversation, fun, laughter and good memories. Now that the hustle and bustle of the holidays have come and gone, it’s time to look forward to 2026. A fresh new year is upon us. It's time to reevaluate our goals. It’s a time to decide on not only our personal goals but our health goals as well. A goal to enjoy life again by improving your hearing health is a wonderful goal to make! We would love nothing more

2026
NEW EARS FOR THE YEAR!

For the month of January, we are offering
$500.00 off a pair of devices

06/05/2025

Is a Hearing Test The Same as a Hearing Screening?

Hearing tests are performed by a hearing healthcare provider. During the test, you’ll sit in a soundproof booth, and your hearing levels will be measured and plotted on an audiogram. This is often called a "comprehensive hearing exam.”

Screening, on the other hand, is usually quicker and simpler. It can be done by a professional in your Primary Physician office or Dr. Elena Maresca. Call (631) 780-HEAR (4327) or visit WWW.liaudiology.com for an appointment and more information.
Enjoy Life Again

05/29/2025

What age do you need a hearing test?

There is no “starting age”! Everyone should have a baseline hearing test, and get rechecked every 2 years.

Even if you’re younger than 60,if you are regularly exposed to sounds louder than about 85 decibels, it’s a good idea to get a hearing test every year.

People most at risk of noise-induced hearing loss are often those who work in loud environments, such as construction, manufacturing, music industries, or the military.

If you are experiencing symptoms of hearing loss, schedule an appointment if you experience any symptoms of hearing loss including:
Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments
Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
Ringing or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
Turning up the volume on the TV or radio
Feeling like others are mumbling or speaking too softly
Trouble hearing on the phone or in group conversations

Note that if you develop sudden hearing loss in one ear, it is a medical emergency. Seek help right away.

If you are feeling like you need a hearing aide to help with your hearing don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Elena Maresca today. Visit liaudiology.com or call 631-180-4327 to schedule an appointment and get more information.
Enjoy Life Again

03/06/2025

A personalized intervention for hearing care could help protect cognitive health in older adults at risk for dementia, according to a pilot study from UCLA and UCLH. The personalized intervention included 4 sessions:
*fitting & adjusting devices
*setting communication goals
*practical support to use aids daily
*fine-tuning the settings
UCL research had previously found that addressing hearing loss and 13 other modifiable risk factors could prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases.
Go to www.liaudiology.com for more info

01/02/2025

Dr Elena Maresca & Staff wish you a happy & healthy 2025
www.liaodiology.com

01/02/2025

How hearing loss affects your ability to distinguish words and why even mild hearing loss should be treated
Did you say...share or chair?...Throne or phone?...Back or bag?
Vowel sounds are lower-pitched and carry most of the volume of speech, while consonant sounds are often higher-pitched and provide the meaningful distinctions between words.
While "mild" hearing loss sounds harmless, the truth is: Even just slight hearing loss will impact your ability to understand those around you.
Although high-frequency hearing loss is one of the most common forms of hearing loss, it can often go undiagnosed.
If someone feels they are hearing words incorrectly they should see an audiologist to establish a baseline and determine if any future action is needed.
www.liaudiology.com for full article and info