like wearing a monocle. They usu-
ally come back and want the second
one.”)
Besides the over-the-ear style he
and Eisenberg favor, there are many
other models. Some sit behind the
ear, some are inserted deep into the
ear canal, and some are more visible
but have the advantages of longer-
lasting batteries and being easier to
handle. The technology shows no
sign of slowing down, Weingarten
said.
“In six to 10 years, it will be all
about biometrics — the hearing
aid will take your pulse, check your
oxygen level, heart rate and glucose
level and send all that information
to your phone,” he said.
Eisenberg remains grateful that
her husband, Burt, kept pushing her
to seek help for her hearing loss. He
passed away shortly after she got her
new hearing aids six years ago.
“It’s like a godsend,” she said. “It
has really enhanced my life.”

opening to restore drainage. After
five seconds, the balloon is deflated
and removed and the procedure is
repeated on the next pathway.
“It only takes 20 to 30 minutes
for the procedure, and it’s a much
shorter recovery period,” said Stone.
“There’s also less need for narcotic
pain medications.”
Grushko felt better after just a
few days. “It was sort of the same as
when I had Lasix — an immediate
result and then progressively even
better,” he said. “It took about three
months to feel the full effect of the
reduced volume of the tinnitus, but
now I am 70 to 80 percent better,
and I am happy.”
Long-term studies show the same
outcomes as traditional sinus sur-
gery, Stone said, at a much lower
cost. “This is less expensive for the
patient — and for healthcare in gen-
eral,” he said.
The procedure resulted in another
big plus for Grushko, whose con-
stant congestion meant
OPEN SESAME
taking lots of Sudafed.
“Now I don’t have to take
Where Eisenberg’s poor hear-
much of anything any-
ing was making those around
more,” he said. “This has
her nuts, the ringing in Jack
eliminated a lot of drug
Grushko’s ears was driving
taking.”
him to distraction.
Sinusitis symptoms
“I have had sinus issues on
typically include constant
and off because of allergies
Jack Grushko
facial pain and pressure,
over the last 10 years, and it’s
headaches, a stuffy nose,
tinnitus,” said the Bloomfield
thick, yellow-green nasal
Hills resident, 61. “It was pro-
gressively getting worse and I tried a discharge, low fever, bad breath
and pain in the teeth for 10 days or
number of things.”
longer.
To relieve the pressure, Michael
“Traditionally, patients with
Stone, M.D., also of Ear, Nose &
chronic sinusitis have 4.5 infections
Throat Consultants, suggested a
per year that require antibiotics,”
relatively new procedure called a
said Stone, who is a member at
balloon sinus dilation. The surgery
very gently opens nasal passages —
Temple Beth El, part of the Forman
a far cry from what Stone called the
Campaign Leadership Program
traditional “rotor-rooter” procedure
through the Jewish Federation and
that requires general anesthesia.
active in Send a Kid to Tamarack.
The patient is given a local anes-
“Z-Paks are given away like candy
thesia (not unlike a dentist visit)
at many urgent care offices. Balloon
and then the physician inserts a
sinus dilation reduces the need for
balloon into each sinus pathway. As
antibiotics and the risk of develop-
it is gently inflated, it expands the
ing a resistance to them.” •

BREATHE DEEP

To keep your sinus passages free and clear, Michael Stone, M.D., recommends
daily irrigation with a neti pot. There’s no need to buy special potions at the drug
store, he said. All that’s needed is 1 cup of lukewarm water (tap is fine), and half
a teaspoon each of kosher salt and baking soda.
Put half the mixture in a neti pot or bulb syringe, aim at the back of the nostril
and lightly squeeze. Refill the syringe and repeat on the other side.
“You can do it once or twice a day,” Stone said, “especially if you feel like you’re
getting sick, have been around a lot of sick people or after a plane trip.”

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