Chapter 15: Ears Flashcards
What is the function of the middle ear?
Conducts sound vibrations from outer ear, Protects inner ear reducing amplitude of sounds, Allows equalization of air pressure so that Tympanic Membrane does not rupture
Cranial nerve 8
Hearing and equilibrium
What is the normal pathway of hearing?
Air conduction
What is conductive hearing loss?
when there is a problem conducting sound waves anywhere along the route through the outer ear, tympanic membrane (eardrum), or middle ear (ossicles)
What is sensorineural (or perceptive) hearing loss?
nerve loss, is defined as the loss of hearing caused by damage or alteration of the sensory mechanism of the cochlea or the neural structures that lay beyond
What is mixed hearing loss?
is caused by a combination of conductive damage in the outer or middle ear and sensorineural damage in the inner ear (cochlea) or hearing/auditory nerve. Genetic factors, overexposure to loud noise, certain medications and the normal ageing process can lead to sensorineural hearing loss
What is maternal rubella infection?
Baby can have hearing problems if mom has infection
What problem do infants and children have involving the ears and why?
Ear infections because the eustachian tube is shorter and horizontal
Ear problems with older adult
Cilia becomes stiff and long, Cerumen is drier, Presbycusis (Sensorineural hearing loss) and Otosclerosis (An inherited disorder that causes hearing loss due to the ear’s inability to amplify sound.)
Otitis media
Ear infection
What are risk factors of otitis media?
being between 6 and 36 months old, using a pacifier, attending daycare, being bottle fed instead of breastfed (in infants), drinking while laying down (in infants), being exposed to cigarette smoke, being exposed to high levels of air pollution, experiencing changes in altitude, experiencing changes in climate, being in a cold climate, having had a recent cold, flu, sinus, or ear infection
Rinne Test
Notes Air vs bone conduction
Weber Test
Localization of sound
Whisper Test
1) Stand 1-2 feet behind client so they can not read your lips.
2) Instruct client to place one finger on tragus of left ear to obscure sound.
3) Whisper word with 2 distinct syllables towards client’s right ear.
4) Ask client to repeat word back.
5) Repeat test for left ear.
6) Client should correctly repeat 2 syllable word.
When should you do the otoscopic exam?
Save otoscopic examination until last; then parent can hold and comfort child and prevent movement
Otitis Externa
Swimmers ear; infection in the ear canal with clear discharge
Otitis media with effusion (OME)
infected fluid in middle ear
Acute otitis media
infected middle ear, fluid puts pressure on the eardrum causing redness, viruses and bacteria enter the tube through the throat, eustachian tube closes and pus and fluid form
Insertion of tympanostomy tubes
inserted into the eardrum in order to keep the middle ear aerated for a prolonged period of time, and to prevent the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear.
Perforation
can happen to the tympanic membrane forming scar tissue “ruptured eardrum”, usually do to trauma or untreated acute otitis
Blue drum
Blood in the ear canal (hemotympanum)
Scarred eardrum
dense white patches on the eardrum are sequelae of repeated ear infections
Cholesteatoma
overgrowth of epidermal tissue in middle ear , pearly white, cheesy looking
Fungal infection of ear
(otomycosis): colony of white or black dots on eardrum or canal all suggests a yeast or fungal infection
Bullous Myringitis
small vesicles containing blood on the eardrum, accompanied by mycoplasma pneumonia and viral infections
Acute otitis media
middle ear fluid infected, absent light reflection from increased middle ear pressure, redness and bulging
