Dr. Michael Olds
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Spokane, WA
34 years experience
Locations
Office
Spokane, WA
About
Bio
I have had the privilege of practicing in Spokane since 1996. Our practice at Spokane Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic offers each patient access to state of the art care for their specific disorder or disease. I am one of two fellowship trained neurotologists. We also have specialists with training in head and neck cancer, advanced sinus surgery techniques and reconstruction of the head and neck.
My particular areas of interest and focus are hearing disorders in children, cochlear implantation, eustachian tube disfunction and chronic ear infections. I enjoy helping patients achieve their highest level of function and health and am committed to a team approach with patients and families.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
37 Answers
8 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
See your doctor: Frequent nose bleeds in a child might just be due to dry nasal passages or nose picking, but it could signal problems of a bleeding disorder, rare nas... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Bacterial and viral : Ear infections are more common in children due to their anatomy and predisposition for upper respiratory infections. When the eustachian tube fails t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
It is treatable: Mrsa, or methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a drug resistant form of the common staph bacteria. It is resistant to the medications commo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Seek attention: Ear infections are common and usually easily treated with antibiotics. Sometimes complications can develop however and an unrelenting headache is a da... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Depends: If your hearing loss is sudden and recent you need to see an ear doctor immediately. If the loss has been developing gradually, then an evaluation to... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Yes: Aminoglycosides are antibiotics that are usually given through an IV for serious infections. These medications may be life saving but carry the poten... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Genetic hearing loss: Yes, a genetic mutation in mitochondrial RNA has been shown to predispose individuals to hearing and balance problems when they receive amino glycosid... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Not exactly: Interestingly, Acetaminophen has always been considered a safe pain medication when hearing loss was concerned. When the large population study in f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Otolaryngologist: Otolaryngology is the specialty focusing on problems of the ear, nose and throat. Hearing loss, ringing in the ear (or tinnitus) and other disorders ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Unlikely: The sensation to your face does not come from nerves in your neck or shoulder. True sensation to the face comes from branches of a nerve that origina... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
No: Tonsil inflammation and redness can occur due to bacterial and/or viral infections. When a person has "strep throat" this refers to a bacterial infec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Absolutely: Hearing loss does not have to limit your professional options. If you're interested in audiology- go for it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Usually a few days: The drainage from a middle ear infection that causes a ruptured ear drum will typically stop in 4 or 5 days. These perforations are generally quite s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Yes: If an epley maneuver has been helpful it is not unusual to require more than one session of this therapy to achieve longer control. However, if the e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Certain kinds: If you have hearing loss on the basis of poor transmission of sound to the hearing nerve, surgery can be helpful. Repairing a perforated eardrum, rem... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Yes, but rare: An infection of the ear can occasionally spread into the inner ear and lead to damage of the hearing hair cells. With some infections new bone will f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Several things: Lymph nodes are a site of inflammatory response and immune reaction. Swollen, tender lymph nodes are a common response to bacterial or viral infectio... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Find the cause: Vertigo is a symptom, not a diagnosis. When a doctor thinks of vertigo we are describing an illusion or sensation of motion when there is no actual, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Not exactly: Your sinuses are part of the facial skeleton. The are air pockets within the bone. The openings from your sinuses onto the nasal passage can be wide... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Recessive disorder: Pendred's syndrome is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. This means that both parents must transfer a copy of the defective gene to the chil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Several causes: You describe an area that has several major structures in the vacinity. A large salivary gland in that area will sometimes become suddenly swollen. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
When comfortable: If the ear infection seemed to occur independently of other symptoms (no cough, significant nasal drainage, etc.) then they are unlikely to be a high ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Depends on the type: Hearing loss can occur from mechanical or nerve problems. A wax impaction, fluid in the middle ear or severe pressure changes in the middle ear can a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Individual: Tinnitus is most commonly a consequence of damage to the inner ear. This can occur with noise exposure, certain medications or the aging process amon... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Unlikely: The two should not be related. The external ear develops from tissue that is unrelated to the eye or optic tracts. Vision can occasionally be altere... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Fatigue and hearing: What you describe is most likely a function of your central hearing mechanism, or processing. I suspect if we looked at your actual hearing levels, t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Several causes: Ear pain can develop from inflammation of the ear canal skin, from a middle ear infection, TMJ inflammation or even from problems affecting sites far ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Might be serious: Antibiotic related diarrhea can sometimes be a sign of a secondary infection in the bowel. This is particularly worrisome if the diarrhea is bloody. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Hearing and balance : Méničre's disease is a disorder of the inner ear characterized by recurrent vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (noise in the ear) and ear pre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Newborn hearing test: A technique using emitted signals from the inner ear hair cells called otoacoustic emissions is used. This does not require the child to react to the... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
No FDA approved: There have been several studies looking at supplements such as melatonin, gingko, and bioflavinoids. None of these studies demonstrate definitive imp... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Further testing: The screening of newborns for hearing loss is one of the great public health triumphs in the last 10 years. The screening tests used have some shortco... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Probably ruptured: A rush of fluid from the ear canal in the midst of an acute ear infection usually means the drum has ruptured. If she has ear tubes this drainage wil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Possible infection: This could be due to a multitude of causes. Viral or bacterial infections could cause this. In some areas we are seeing a spike in whooping cough. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Not a likely cause: There are forms of hearing loss that can have associated thyroid abnormalities, pendred's syndrome is an example, however a goiter is not a cause for ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
Could be viral: Obviously a diagnosis cannot be provided based on just the three elements you provided, but one possibility that comes quickly to mind is mono. There... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Oldsanswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 34 years experience
See your doctor: You relate a set of symptoms that could describe several issues. Ear or mastoid infections, migraine related symptoms, or problems of the inner ear c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
5
Recommendations
189
Thank you notes
Dec 12, 2012
Trustworthy and reliable.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Olds is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Olds is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks so much. I called the er that we went to and they said nothing about a ruptured ear drum.
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer or tip was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Washington School of Medicine, WA
Graduated 1989MD
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less