EXPERT
Karen M. Major, AU.D.,F-AAA
Audiologist
Dr. Karen Major is an audiologist practicing in Fort Myers, FL. Dr. Major evaluates, diagnoses and treats hearing loss, balance issues and tinnitus. Audiologists can care for patients of all ages and treat almost all types of hearing loss. As an audiologist, Dr. Major takes part in services like prescribing and fitting hearing aids, recommending assisted listening devices and providing hearing rehabilitation. Audiologists can work in a number of settings such as hospitals, schools, clinics, private practices as well as government, military and VA hospitals.
Karen M. Major, AU.D.,F-AAA
- Fort Myers, FL
- Accepting new patients
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How long does a hearing test take?
Hi there, a comprehensive hearing test takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Typically this will involve otoscopy (looking in the ears), tympanometry (checking the health READ MORE
Hi there, a comprehensive hearing test takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Typically this will involve otoscopy (looking in the ears), tympanometry (checking the health and mobility of the eardrums) and audiometry including listening to pure tones via air and bone conduction, as well as completing word recognition testing.
What does a hearing test evaluate?
Hello there, A comprehensive hearing test (done by an audiologist for medical purposes) will evaluate various systems in the outer/middle/inner ear. Typically you will first have READ MORE
Hello there, A comprehensive hearing test (done by an audiologist for medical purposes) will evaluate various systems in the outer/middle/inner ear. Typically you will first have a tympanogram to measure appropriate movement of the eardrum, then listen for tones and repeat words to evaluate your hearing thresholds as well as your speech understanding capabilities. You can read more detail here on our website: https://www.docmercer.com/hearing-testing/
Can hearing improve over time?
Interesting question. So, if you have hearing changes caused by temporary issues such as eustachian tube dysfunction (negative pressure on the eardrum) than the hearing can certainly READ MORE
Interesting question. So, if you have hearing changes caused by temporary issues such as eustachian tube dysfunction (negative pressure on the eardrum) than the hearing can certainly fluctuate due to those changes. Typically, the human ear does not improve over time. Youre young to have hearing changes anyway, so if youre concerned, go ahead and schedule a hearing test with an audiologist!
Why does my ear hurt after using a q-tip?
Hello there, hopefully the pain is not an indication that you went too far with the Qtip and caused damage to your ear canal or worse, your eardrum. Please get the ear checked READ MORE
Hello there, hopefully the pain is not an indication that you went too far with the Qtip and caused damage to your ear canal or worse, your eardrum. Please get the ear checked ASAP and DO NOT put anything else in it in the meantime!
Why did my hearing change after being on a plane?
Hi there, its likely your tympanic membranes are still experiencing some negative pressure from the planes descent. If you are able, try to pop the ears and see if this helps. READ MORE
Hi there, its likely your tympanic membranes are still experiencing some negative pressure from the planes descent. If you are able, try to pop the ears and see if this helps. Typically this will resolve on its own within a few days.
Do you having hearing issues after being in space?
Great question, and not one that Ive thought in depth about before. My initial answer is no, the hearing should not be changed if you were in space. What definitely changes if READ MORE
Great question, and not one that Ive thought in depth about before. My initial answer is no, the hearing should not be changed if you were in space. What definitely changes if someone spends a length of time outside of the earths orbit in zero gravity, is that the vestibular system becomes acclimated to zero gravity; then when astronauts return to Earth they need to spend time helping their balance system get back to normal again. The hearing should not be impacted by zero gravity, however, and the only issue I would foresee would be pressure equalization.
Does your hearing change at night?
Hi there, no your hearing should not have changes at night! If you suspect fluctuations in your hearing, go ahead and schedule a hearing test with an audiologist!
When should you start getting a hearing test?
I love that youre already thinking about this! I always advise our patients to have a baseline audiogram at some point once they reach 45. Then you have something for comparison READ MORE
I love that youre already thinking about this! I always advise our patients to have a baseline audiogram at some point once they reach 45. Then you have something for comparison in the future if anything changes or you have a significant health event. If the hearing is normal, then you can retest a few years after that just for monitoring.
How do you confirm having tinnitus?
If you hear sounds in your ears or head then you have tinnitus. Tinnitus is the subjective perception of sound that is not present in the environment.
When should you start having regular hearing tests?
Hi, great question! If you have any concerns about your hearing or other health conditions that may affect your hearing (cardiovascular, diabetes, kidney,noise exposure, genetic READ MORE
Hi, great question! If you have any concerns about your hearing or other health conditions that may affect your hearing (cardiovascular, diabetes, kidney,noise exposure, genetic history of hearing loss) then start now! If not, you can probably wait until around 60. If the hearing is normal then go every 2-3 years for monitoring. Good luck!
How long is a hearing test?
Hi there, it should take around 45-60 minutes with taking your history, testing, and review of results. Good luck!
Can conductive hearing loss be corrected?
Hi there! Conductive hearing loss can sometimes be surgically corrected. It depends on what issue is causing the loss to begin with. An experienced otologist would be able to give READ MORE
Hi there! Conductive hearing loss can sometimes be surgically corrected. It depends on what issue is causing the loss to begin with. An experienced otologist would be able to give you best recommendations as to whether or not surgery should be an option.
What are some signs of vertigo?
Vertigo is not its own disease but rather a symptom (Example if you broke your arm you would experience pain as a symptom; the pain isnt the diagnosis, but a symptom of the root READ MORE
Vertigo is not its own disease but rather a symptom (Example if you broke your arm you would experience pain as a symptom; the pain isnt the diagnosis, but a symptom of the root of the problem). Vertigo is a sensation of true spinning (which is different from feeling lightheaded, woozy, or imbalanced). It could be the symptom of another potential process like Menieres disease, positional vertigo, etc. There are many causes of dizziness and symptoms can come from a variety of possible sources. The only way to determine the cause of true vertigo is to be evaluation by an ENT and audiologist who can perform the necessary diagnostic tests. Good luck!
What are the symptoms of hearing loss?
Tinnitus can be a sign of hearing loss, but, its common to hear temporary tinnitus that resolves like youre describing. If the tinnitus doesnt resolve, then that is more cause READ MORE
Tinnitus can be a sign of hearing loss, but, its common to hear temporary tinnitus that resolves like youre describing. If the tinnitus doesnt resolve, then that is more cause for concern. Its never a bad idea to have a baseline hearing examination completed!
I think I'm partially deaf--what should I do?
Go to an ENT ASAP!!
Intense Tinnitus after a cold
There may still be residual fluid behind the drum on that right side. If you feel that its severely bothersome, go to an urgent care for now. In the meantime call and schedule READ MORE
There may still be residual fluid behind the drum on that right side. If you feel that its severely bothersome, go to an urgent care for now. In the meantime call and schedule with an ENT so youre on their schedule in the next few weeks.
My mother is falling down often. Could it be a balance issues?
Hi there, if your mother is falling Id get her in to her PCP ASAP who will likely refer her to an ENT and/or physical therapist. The last thing we want is for her to get injured. READ MORE
Hi there, if your mother is falling Id get her in to her PCP ASAP who will likely refer her to an ENT and/or physical therapist. The last thing we want is for her to get injured. Of course vertigo (true spinning vertigo) would cause falls, but there are other possibilities as well if there are issues going on with her balance systems.
How do hearing tests work?
Well, that is a loaded question! In general, comprehensive hearing examinations are completed to discover the hearing levels across a broad frequency range. In our office, we start READ MORE
Well, that is a loaded question! In general, comprehensive hearing examinations are completed to discover the hearing levels across a broad frequency range. In our office, we start with looking in the ears, then proceed to checking the eardrums, then the patient listens to tones and repeats words. There is much more that goes into it depending on the needs of the patient. Feel free to look at our description on our website: https://docmercer.com/what-to-expect/
How do you get swimmer's ear?
Swimmers Ear is quite common without a lot of water exposure. It should clear relatively quickly with ear drops. If the problem recurs then you should discuss with the YMCA to READ MORE
Swimmers Ear is quite common without a lot of water exposure. It should clear relatively quickly with ear drops. If the problem recurs then you should discuss with the YMCA to ensure they are keeping the chemicals balanced correctly.
Does hearing affect your speech?
Hello and thank you for this most important question. The answer is a resounding YES! If a child cannot hear well as they are trying to learn language, they have no resources for READ MORE
Hello and thank you for this most important question. The answer is a resounding YES! If a child cannot hear well as they are trying to learn language, they have no resources for that auditory feedback. When we produce the sounds in our speech, we can hear that we are producing them correctly or incorrectly. If your child has hearing loss, its imperative that you address the issue immediately and if need be, also consult with a speech language pathologist. Good luck!
