Ch. 16 (Assessment of Ears) Flashcards
What separates the external and middle ear?
tympanic membrane (eardrum)
What does the tympanic membrane look like?
pearly gray/transparent color
What are the three ear bones in the middle ear?
- malleus
- incus
- stapes
What are the three functions of the middle ear?
- conducts sound vibrations from outer ear
- protects inner ear (reduces amplitude)
- eustachian tube allows equalization of air pressure on each side of TM
Where does air conduction occur in the ear?
- external ear
- middle ear
Where does bone conduction occur in the ear?
- inner ear
Which kind of conduction is more effective in transmitting hearing?
* bone conduction
* air conduction
air conduction
air conduction is greater than bone conduction
What kind of hearing loss is a result of mechanical dysfunction of the external and middle ear?
conductive loss
How does bone conduction work?
- bones of skull vibrate
- vibrations transmitted directly to inner ear
- controlled by CN VIII
What are different types of conductive loss?
- impact wax
- foriegn body
- ruptured eardrum
- ear infection/otitis
What type of hear loss is a result of stagnation in mobility in the osicles (in external & middle ear)?
otosclerosis
What type of hearing loss is a result of damage in the pathology of the inner ear, CN VIII, or cerebral cortex?
sensorineural loss
What type of hearing loss is a result of the cranial nerve VIII degenerating?
presbycusis
type of hearing loss as a result to aging
What type of hearing loss is associated with aging?
presbycusis
What happens when the labyrinth of the inner ear is inflamed?
vertigo
What does the labyrinth do in the inner ear?
helps with equilibrium (sense of balance)
What type of subjective data do we collect during the health history relative to the ear?
- earache
- infections
- discharge
- hearing loss (gradual, sudden)
- environmental noise
- tinnitus (ringing)
- vertigo
- self care behaviors (hearing checks, how do you clean your ears?)
What equipment is needed when taking objective data relative to the ear?
- otoscope
Why do infants have more ear infections than adults?
positioning of their eustachian tube (horizontal instead of sloped-adult)
What characteristics do you inspect and palpate during a physical exam for the ear?
- size/shape
- skin condition
- tenderness
- external auditory meatus
How do you inspect a patient’s tympanic membrane/ear during a physical exam using an otoscope?
- tilt patient’s head away from you
- pull pinna up and back and hold (straightens canal for better inspection) [down and back in infants]
- hold otoscope upside down with hand braced against their cheek
- insert speculum of otoscope towards the nose (while still upside down)
Where does the cone of light shine to in the right ear?
5 o’clock
Where does the cone of light shine to in the left ear?
7 o’clock
When using the otoscope and inspecting the inner ear, what do you inspect?
- external canal
- tympanic membrane (preforated, color)
What kind of test involves vocalizing two letters and a number to a patient behind them?
voice test
What type of abnormaliy of ear causes inflammation of the external ear such as swimmers ear?
otitis externa
What type of lump of the external ear causes painless tiny nodules in the helix of the ear?
darwin tubercle
What type of lump of the external ear causes small white nodules on the helix of the external ear, resulting in uric acid increase in the body?
tophi
What type of lump of the external ear is heavily associated with the company of gout?
tophi
What type of lesion of the external ear causes red painful nodules of rim of the ear as result of frequent sun exposure or consistent pressure?
chondrodermatitis
What type of lump of the external ear causes a scar that has hyertrophy/increase in size?
keloid
What type of lesion of the external ear causes sore that wont heal, bleeds on and off?
carcinoma
What type of abnormality of the ear canal is a round boxy ball of wax that blocks the ear canal?
excessive cerumen
What type of abnormality of the ear canal causes swelling of the canal, inflammation and tenderness?
otitis externa
What type of abnormality of the tympanic membrane causes bulging from the accumulation of pus, and redness from inflammation in the middle ear, usually due to some sort of infection?
acute otitis media
What type of abnormality of the tympanic membrane causes a hole in the eardrum from untreated infections or trauma that causes drainage?
perforation
