
Audiologists Spotlight Why Ears Keep Popping: New Guidance on Causes, Risks, and When to Seek Help
For anyone wondering, ' Why does my ear keep popping? ' Audiologists say it might be more than cabin pressure or a seasonal cold. When that sensation shows up regularly, especially with discomfort, pain, or hearing changes, it can indicate an underlying issue that shouldn't be ignored.
Ask An Audiologist, a national platform focused on hearing health, recently published new guidance explaining the causes of chronic ear popping and what to do when symptoms persist. Contributor Dr. D'Anne Rudden, a board-certified audiologist based in Longmont, Colorado, notes that many people delay treatment for symptoms that are often manageable.
'A lot of people ask, 'Why does my ear keep popping when I swallow?' or 'Why does my left ear keep popping but not the right?' These aren't always harmless quirks,' said Dr. Rudden. 'Sometimes they're early signs of Eustachian tube dysfunction, fluid buildup, or even TMJ-related pressure.'
The Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the nose, help equalize pressure. When they don't function properly, it can lead to repeated popping, fullness, or a need to constantly swallow or yawn to clear the ear. While occasional popping is normal during altitude changes, consistent symptoms may point to:
'When someone tells me, 'Why does my ear keep popping and hurting?' we look for pressure imbalances, infections, or structural issues,' said Rudden. 'The good news is, these problems are usually treatable.'
The Ask An Audiologist team encourages people to pay attention to patterns. If one ear always feels plugged, or the sensation is paired with dizziness or muffled hearing, that's a sign it's time to get checked. Unexplained fluid or discomfort that doesn't go away after a few days may also indicate the need for evaluation.
Some techniques may provide short-term relief. Swallowing, yawning, or gently exhaling with the nose pinched can sometimes help restore balance. Nasal sprays or decongestants may ease sinus pressure. For symptoms tied to jaw tension, jaw stretches or a nighttime bite guard can reduce nearby pressure.
Still, audiologists stress that persistent symptoms shouldn't be treated with guesswork. A licensed specialist can determine whether the issue is minor, such as wax buildup, or more complex, such as chronic inflammation or dysfunction in the middle ear.
'If it's been a week and you're still asking, 'Why does my ear hurt and keep popping?,' that's your cue,' said Rudden. 'You don't have to live with discomfort or uncertainty.'
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, more than 11 million Americans report symptoms tied to chronic ear pressure, popping, or fullness every year, yet many never seek care.
Ask An Audiologist hopes to close that gap by offering expert-reviewed guidance and connecting people with trusted local professionals.
Read the full guide: https://askanaudiologist.com/ear-popping-causes-remedies-and-prevention-tips/
About Ask An Audiologist
Ask An Audiologist is a nationwide collective of practicing audiologists committed to sharing accurate, no-nonsense information on hearing health. From hearing loss and tinnitus to hearing aids, cochlear implants, and assistive listening tools, the platform exists to cut through confusion and deliver insights from the people who treat hearing loss every day, not those who manufacture the solutions.
Unlike manufacturers, researchers, or influencers, these professionals spend their days fitting real people with real devices and listening closely to what works, what doesn't, and what often gets misunderstood. Because they serve patients directly, not shareholders or grant committees, their advice is grounded in outcomes, not marketing spin.
All contributors are Doctors of Audiology, the only professionals specifically trained to assess, diagnose, and treat hearing loss as the uniquely individual condition it is. Whether it's wax causing the issue or how the brain is processing sound, Ask An Audiologist helps patients get trusted answers from the experts who actually do the work.
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Company Name: Ask An Audiologist
Email: Send Email
Address: 429 E Dupont Road #126
City: Fort Wayne
State: Indiana 46825
Country: United States
Website: https://askanaudiologist.com/
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Known risk factors include the following: our products or product candidates may be perceived as insufficiently effective, unsafe or may result in unforeseen adverse events; our products or product candidates may cause undesirable side effects that result in significant negative consequences following any marketing approval; the possible impact of regulations and regulatory decisions by the FDA and other regulatory agencies on our business; and those risks identified under the heading 'Risk Factors' in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other SEC filings made by the Company, which you are encouraged to review. Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations and the trading price of Sarepta's common stock. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties Sarepta faces, you are encouraged to review the SEC filings made by Sarepta. 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10 hours ago
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Globe and Mail
10 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
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(the 'Merger Proposal'), (2) the approval of the issuance of shares of Regional common stock and Regional Series D 8% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Shares (the 'Regional Series D preferred stock') in connection with the merger (the 'Share Issuance Proposal'), and (3) the approval to adjourn the Regional special meeting to solicit additional proxies in favor of the Merger Proposal or the Share Issuance Proposal if there are insufficient votes at the time of such adjournment to approve the Merger Proposal or the Share Issuance Proposal. In its July 23, 2025 report, ISS noted: 1 The strategic rationale for the merger appears sound considering the pre-tax cost synergies and enhanced possibility of long-term profitability. The outperformance of SunLink and Regional since announcement suggests that investors view the proposed combination favorably. Brent Morrison, CFA, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Regional, stated, 'Regional is pleased that ISS concluded that support for this transaction was warranted. Regional is even more pleased that, of the proxies received to date, approximately 80% of Regional's common stock shareholders see it the same way.' SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS July 29, 2025 at 10 am ET YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. VOTE TODAY! About Regional Health Properties Regional Health Properties, Inc., a Georgia corporation, is a self-managed healthcare real estate investment company that invests primarily in real estate purposed for senior living and long-term care. For more information, visit NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION Communications in this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any proxy vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act'). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The proposed merger will be submitted to both the Regional and SunLink shareholders for their consideration. In connection with the proposed merger, Regional filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-286975) (the 'Registration Statement') with SEC that includes a joint proxy statement/prospectus for Regional and SunLink, which was sent to common stock shareholders of Regional and common stock shareholders of SunLink on or about June 30, 2025. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE CORRESPONDING JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE TO FILED WITH THE SEC ON JULY 18, 2025 REGARDING A PROPOSED TENDER OFFER, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You are able to obtain a copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Regional and SunLink, without charge, at the SEC's website ( or by accessing Regional's website ( under the tab 'Investor Relations' or by accessing SunLink's website ( under the tab 'Investors.' Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Investor Relations, Regional Health Properties, Inc., 1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 720, Atlanta, Georgia, 30338, telephone 678-869-5116 or to Investor Relations, SunLink Health Systems, Inc., 900 Circle 75 Parkway, Suite 690, Atlanta, Georgia, 30339, telephone 770-933-7004. Regional and SunLink and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Regional and SunLink in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of Regional is set forth in the proxy statement for Regional's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the 'Regional Annual Report'), as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025, which information may be updated by Regional from time to time in subsequent filings with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of SunLink is set forth in the proxy statement for SunLink's Amendment No. 1 to Annual Report on Form 10-K/, as filed with the SEC on October 25, 2024, which information may be updated by SunLink from time to time in subsequent filings with the SEC. Additional information about the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may also be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of words like 'believe', 'continue', 'pattern', 'estimate', 'project', 'intend', 'anticipate', 'expect' and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as 'will', 'would', 'should', 'could', 'might', 'can', 'may', or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected benefits of the proposed merger between Regional and SunLink, including pre-tax cost synergies and profitability, other statements of expectations regarding the merger, and other statements of Regional's goals, intentions and expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements, including, among other things: the risk that the businesses of Regional and SunLink will not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; expected revenue synergies and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; revenues following the merger may be lower than expected; customer, vendor and employee relationships and business operations may be disrupted by the merger; the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals or the approvals of Regional's or SunLink's shareholders, and the ability to complete the merger on the expected timeframe; the costs and effects of litigation and the possible unexpected or adverse outcomes of such litigation; the ability of Regional and SunLink to meet the initial or continued listing requirements or rules of the NYSE American LLC or the OTCQB, as applicable, and to maintain the listing or trading, as applicable, of securities thereon; possible changes in economic and business conditions; the impacts of epidemics, pandemics or other infectious disease outbreaks; the existence or exacerbation of general geopolitical instability and uncertainty; possible changes in monetary and fiscal policies, and laws and regulations; competitive factors in the healthcare industry; Regional's dependence on the operating success of its operators; the amount of, and Regional's ability to service, its indebtedness; covenants in Regional's debt agreements that may restrict its ability to make investments, incur additional indebtedness and refinance indebtedness on favorable terms; the effect of increasing healthcare regulation and enforcement on Regional's operators and the dependence of Regional's operators on reimbursement from governmental and other third-party payors; the relatively illiquid nature of real estate investments; the impact of litigation and rising insurance costs on the business of Regional's operators; the effect of Regional's operators declaring bankruptcy, becoming insolvent or failing to pay rent as due; the ability of any of Regional's operators in bankruptcy to reject unexpired lease obligations and to impede its ability to collect unpaid rent or interest during the pendency of a bankruptcy proceeding and retain security deposits for the debtor's obligations; Regional's ability to find replacement operators and the impact of unforeseen costs in acquiring new properties; and other risks and factors identified in (i) Regional's cautionary language included under the headings 'Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' in the Regional Annual Report, and other documents subsequently filed by Regional with the SEC and (ii) SunLink's cautionary language included under the headings 'Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors' in SunLink's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024, and other documents subsequently filed by SunLink with the SEC. Neither Regional nor SunLink undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this press release. In addition, Regional's and SunLink's past results of operations do not necessarily indicate either of their anticipated future results, whether the merger is effectuated or not.