Chapter 10 Diseases and Conditions of the EAR

Question 1

Acoustic Neuroma

Answer 1

Benign tumor that grows and wraps around the auditory nerve. Results in hearing loss, ringing in ear, and balance problems. Must cut open the skull to access the growth for removal.

Question 2

Cholesteatoma

Answer 2

A cyst in the middle ear consisting of skin cells and cerumen/earwax that warps around and restrains ossicles. Can damage ossicles if not treated. Affects hearing. Can pull on the eardrum and cause perforations/tears. Can be surgically removed.

Question 3

Two types of deafness?

Answer 3

Conductive deafness and nerve deafness

Question 4

Conductive deafness

Answer 4

Caused by ossicles not functioning properly due to scarring of joint by overuse and abuse. Ossicles vibrate too aggressively for too long. Long noise on a daily basis from things such as airpods.

Question 5

What is the max decibel level before it can cause hearing loss?

Answer 5

Less than or equal to 85 decibels. Anything above can cause hearing loss.

Question 6

Treatments for conductive hearing loss

Answer 6

Hearing aids

Question 7

Hearing aids

Answer 7

Amplifies low sounds for people with an ossicle issue.

Question 8

Nerve deafness and what is it also known as?

Answer 8

From damage cochlea or auditory nerve or you are born deaf. AKA sensorineural hearing loss. Any damage to cochlea or auditory nerve is in this category. tx: cochlear implant

Question 9

Cochlear implant

Answer 9

Removable but transmitter is drilled in. Takes over cochlea and sends signals to auditory nerve. Requires surgery. Only for cochlear problems.

Question 10

Impacted cerumen

Answer 10

Earwax that gets so concentrated and stuck deep in canal. Can get hard like a rock. Common. Caused by daily use of Q-tips. Collects in front of tympanic membrane and can cause infection. Wash ear out or manually remove with a scoop.

Question 11

Meniere’s Disease

Answer 11

Backup of fluid in the cochlea and canals which produce vertigo. Cochlea is supposed to have fluid but not be completely full. Tells the brain where head is in relation to gravity through the vestibular nerve. Meniere’s causes cochlea to be full of fluid, which the vestibular nerve interprets as you spinning. This causes vertigo. tx: meds to treat sx’s but not the actual disease.

Question 12

Tinnitus

Answer 12

Ringing in ears

Question 13

Vertigo

Answer 13

Dizziness

Question 14

Otitis Media

Answer 14

Ear infection. tx is antibiotics and tubes. Fluid gets stuck b/c it doesn’t drain thru eustachian tube. Affects hearing and inflames eardrum. Typical in children because the anatomy of their eustachian tube is at a shallow angle but steepens as they grow.

Question 15

Ageusia

Answer 15

Absence of taste

Question 16

Anosmia

Answer 16

Absence of smell

Question 17

Dysgeusia

Answer 17

Difficulty tasting

Question 18

Hyperosmia

Answer 18

Excessive smell

Question 19

Hyposmia

Answer 19

Deficient smell

Question 20

Neuropathy

Answer 20

Disease of nerve

Question 21

Tubes (the treatment)

Answer 21

Myringotomy. Surgical. Hole is cut into eardrum and hollow tube is inserted so that fluid can drain thru the outer ear. Fluid can be too thick so it needs to be sucked out. Tube pops out eventually and eardrum heals. Can get this procedure multiple times.