The Millstone Times

QUESTION: Tinnitus. What is it and how do you pronounce it? Tinnitus, simply put, is the perception of noise or ringing in the ears which is not coming from an external source. Tinnitus can vary from person to person. It can be a hiss, click, single steady tone or a sound which may vary in frequency and volume-sometimes differently from day to day. It is pronounced (tin-ih-tus,) not as an “ITIS” such as laryngitis. What are some of the common causes? The causes of tinnitus are multiple. The most common cause is hearing loss. This is due to the fact that the organ of hearing is not providing the brain with the appropriate amount of information at a given frequency, so it begins to create its own information. This is similar to “phantom limb pain”, wherein an amputee may experience pain in an extremity that is no longer present. Another cause could be temporomandibular joint abnormality, which is an irritation of the nerves in the head, neck or jaw that cross over into the acoustic nerve. It could also be as simple

as too much ear wax. What can be done?

For the person who suffers from tinnitus, ‘background noise’ is your friend. This means that if you can provide the brain with a sound a bit louder than the tinnitus, the brain will be distracted. Playing music, using white noise generators, a fan in your bedroom etc. are some ways to alleviate the distress brought about by tinnitus, especially at night when it is very quiet. If you have hearing loss, wearing hearing devices can not only help you hear more clearly, but can oftentimes also reduce the perception of tinnitus. Some hearing devices have built-in noise generators for even more relief.

Schedule your appointment today to discuss your concerns about, and possible remedies for, your tinnitus.

7 Schalks Crossing Road, Plainsboro, NJ Phone: 609-897-0203 www.DrScottKay.com

Happy Anniversary to

The Millstone Times TM

The year 2018 marks the 8th anniversary of The Millstone Times newspaper. The first issue in 2010 was (not surprisingly) much smaller than this issue. We are happy to share our publication with 20,000 readers in 3 counties around Central New Jersey. The Millstone Times is widely seen as the premier publication in Millstone and the surrounding neighborhoods. We continue to be the premier voice for local news, school- happenings, local events, health and wellness topics, and senior information. Not only will you find The Millstone Times in your mailbox each month, but also online digitally as well as on many social media platforms and in your email inbox for our opt-in subscribers. What we have done in the past eight years: • We have reached over 50k readers in 3 counties every month with just our Print issues. • During these eight years, we have raised thousands and thousands of dollars helping create awareness about local fundraisers and charities. • We have helped almost 500 local businesses connect with the residents in CNJ and our readers. • We have published over 6,000 pages. • We have given away over $5,000 in reader contests. Some of these items were to Broadway Shows, local pet stores and local restaurants. To continue our aim of publishing and highlighting the local families and the local students in our mailing area, we have featured close to 100 articles highlighting local families and exceptional students. We have received an enormous number of testimonials and positive feedback from our advertisers. We highlight one in each issue in our “This publication works” display ad. We thank you for your immense support and hope you enjoy this anniversary issue dedicated to our readers and advertisers. The entire team at Gunther Publications has enjoyed our journey together.

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The Millstone Times

March 2018