Think Neuro Mini: Meet Dr. Naveed Wagle

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), or sudden deafness, is a rapid loss of hearing. SSHL can happen to a person all at once or over a period of up to 3 days. It should be considered a medical emergency. Hearing loss affects only one ear in 9 out of 10 people who experience SSHL. Many people notice it when they wake up in the morning. Others first notice it when they try to use the deafened ear, such as when they make a phone call. Still others notice a loud, alarming “pop” just before their hearing disappears. People with SSHL often experience dizziness or a ringing in their ears (tinnitus), or both.Dr. Abbas Anwar, a native of Southern California, is a board certified otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon, at the Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center, Pacific Neuroscience Institute. He specializes in all aspects of general and pediatric ENT and has special interests in sinonasal diseases and infections, head and neck surgery, otologic disorders, and throat complaints. He is well trained in the latest leading-edge innovations in otolaryngology including balloon sinuplasty, CT guided sinus surgery, and microlaryngeal laser surgery.

30 Apr 3min

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is a virus that infects the skin and wet surfaces of the body. It's a disease that's commonly spread through sexual activity, and over 80% of people will get it at some point in their lifetime. HPV is an endemic disease, which, in epidemiology, means that it is constantly present in a particular population. While most people recover from HPV, there can be complications. It is responsible for more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers and can also cause oropharyngeal cancer. Dr. Wu, a board-certified otolaryngologist, specializes in head and neck surgical oncology. Diseases like HPV and cancers that affect the head and neck are what she sees most in her patients. Working closely with other multispecialty experts at PNI, Dr. Wu is committed to guiding her patients through their cancer journeys. Listen in.

23 Apr 38min

The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx (back of the nose). It helps aerate the middle ear as well as equalizing pressure such as when flying in an airplane. Sometimes the eustachian tube does not function as it is supposed to and sometimes this may be related to concurrent nasal and sinus issues. Learn more about what can go wrong and how to remedy it.Michael Yong, MD, MPH, MBA, is board certified in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, and fellowship-trained in Neurorhinology – Advanced Sinus & Skull Base Surgery. At Pacific Neuroscience Institute®, Dr. Yong provides full-service general Otolaryngology care, with an expertise in sinonasal and skull base disorders. He specializes in using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques for the treatment of nasal obstruction, smell disorders, allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, facial pain, acute and chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and benign and malignant tumors of the sinonasal cavities, among others. In addition, he works closely with a multidisciplinary team including his Neurosurgery colleagues to perform endoscopic endonasal surgeries that address benign and malignant skull base disorders in a way that maximizes preservation of function and quality of life.

16 Apr 2min

Dr. Daniel Kelly, Neurosurgeon, Director and Founder, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, presents a case study of a 52 year old woman from New York who was experiencing progressive vision loss. After an MRI, she traveled to Los Angeles to receive minimally invasive keyhole surgery for a meningioma (brain tumor). Using a endoscopic, endonasal approach, the patient's tumor was removed via the nostril.

9 Apr 3min

Hearing loss affects millions of people worldwide, particularly older adults who can suffer age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Beyond the obvious impact on communication and quality of life, recent research studies show that hearing loss leads to a higher risk of developing the diseases of cognitive decline such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. Hearing loss demands comprehensive understanding and professional care. It is more than a mere audiological condition; hearing loss is profoundly connected with cognition, communication, and emotional well-being. If you find yourself confronting hearing loss, do not hesitate to seek assistance at Pacific Eye, Ear, and Skull Base Center.

2 Apr 3min

Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder in humans, and its causes are among the most mysterious. It’s a neurological condition that causes involuntary shaking. It can begin in one’s 20s or 30s, or much later in life. Dr. Natalie Diaz treats essential tremors. Its origins may be unknown, but there are treatments. The first step is to talk to your doctor to rule out other forms of tremor because there are many.

26 Mar 5min

To say that the medical world’s view of psychedelics has changed would be a vast understatement. Until about two decades ago, drugs like LSD and psilocybin—the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms—were considered dangerous party drugs. Then, a small group of scientists began reconsidering the therapeutic value of the compounds, known for centuries in many non-industrial cultures. In 2000, doctors at Johns Hopkins got regulatory approval to study the drugs. Since then, doctors there and elsewhere have shown that psychedelics can help people quit smoking, quit drinking, ease anxiety, and lift depression. PNI started its Treatment & Research In Psychedelics (TRIP) program in 2019, under the direction of Dr. Keith Heinzerling. So far, TRIP has completed three studies of psychedelics which are difficult to do because the drugs are still illegal under federal law. More studies particularly focusing on depression are underway. Working on those trials has made Dr. Heinzerling one of the foremost experts on psychedelics. Listen to the episode to learn more about the “psychedelic renaissance,” now in its 25th year, from a practitioner who has a thoughtful take on the promise of these once-shunned compounds.

19 Mar 1h 2min

After a childhood disease that affected her hearing, Ayslyn has undergone multiple preventative surgeries for hearing loss each year of her life. At 27 years old, she was treated by Dr. Courtney Voelker and Dr. Rebecca Lewis at Pacific Neuroscience Institute to get a new hearing device. Through a Bone Bridge Surgery she is now able to hear through this innovative technology.

12 Mar 4min