Eustachian tube dysfunction
Eustachian tubes are small passageways that connect behind the nose to the middle ears. When you sneeze, swallow or yawn, the Eustachian tubes open to allow air to flow in and out. However, sometimes, Eustachian tubes can become blocked which is called Eustachian tube dysfunction. When this happens, sounds become muffled and your ear may feel full.
The most common causes of Eustachian tube dysfunction is caused by cold (flu) or sinusitis.
Most of the time, the Eustachian tube dysfunction will resolved without any treatment.
Hearing test
Hearing test is best done by audiologist as they have the equipment to do so. Hearing test is not covered under Medicare. However, there are people who will be eligible for free hearing test provided by Australian government through Hearing Service Voucher.
To be eligible to a Hearing Service Voucher, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident 21 years or older and you meet one of the following,
- Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
- Centrelink Sickness Allowance
- DVA Pensioner Concession Card
- White Health Repatriation Card (for hearing loss)
- Gold Health Repatriation Card
- Are a member of the Australian Defence Forces
- Partner or dependent child of an eligible person
Here, I would like to give you some understanding of types of hearing loss. There are conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss or mixed (combination of both conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss).
Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem conducting sound waves anywhere along the route through the ear canal, eardrum or the middle ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss is the problem with the hearing organs such as cochlear, vestibulocochlear nerve or auditory centre of the brain.
Benign positional vertigo
Eye check
Eye is one of the most important sensory organ in our body. In this article, I will explain in details about eye examination.
Eye exam is best to be done through optometrist, given they have the expertise and equipments to do so. The cost of eye exam depends on individual optometrist. If you are Australian citizens or permanent residents, eye examinations provided by optometrist will be subsidised by Medicare. Optometric benefits can be qualified without having private health insurance. Some optometrists bulk billed for eye examination so it is crucial for you to shop around.