Diagnostics Flashcards
What does a normal tympanogram tell us?
The middle ear is functioning properly
What is atresia? What kind of hearing loss can we see?
Absence of the auditory canal (congenital)
Can have a conductive hearing loss up to 60 dB HL
How does impacted earwax affect our test results?
Tympanogram will be a type B with low ECV (under 0.8)
Can have a conductive hearing loss
What is stenosis?
The narrowing of the ear canal
What is exostosis? How does this affect hearing test results?
It is bony growths in the external ear canal that are from swimming in cold lakes and waters.
No impact on hearing
What is otitis externa? Symptoms? Treatment?
An infection of the ear canal that can cause redness, swelling, otalgia and otorrhea
Usually prescribed antibiotics or hydrocortisone creams
A tympanogram results shows a Type B with an ECV at 0.3. What does this suggest?
Impacted ear wax
A tympanogram result shows a Type B with an ECV at 3.2, what does this indicate?
An eardrum perforation
What is otitis media? Symptoms? Audiological findings? Treatments?
An infection of the middle ear that can cause redness and otorrhea.
Can cause a conductive hearing loss.
Tympanogram Type B with normal ECV
Treatments include antibiotics or PE tubes
Why are children more susceptible to middle ear infections?
Because their ET remains horizontal until age 7 and cannot drain out any liquid
Name 5 complications of chronic otitis media
- Labyrinthitis
- Mastoiditis
- Facial nerve paralysis
- Cholesteatoma
- Break in ossicular chain
What are the audiological findings of a perforation?
Type B tympanogram with large ECV (above 2.2)
May have conductive hearing loss
Which condition is known to cause a Type C tympanogram?
Eustachian tube dysfunction
What is a Cholesteatoma? What type of hearing loss can it cause?
It is a benign mass in the middle ear space and can cause a conductive or mixed hearing loss depending on size and location
What is otosclerosis? What are some audiological findings?
It is a spongy growth around the oval window that affects the stapes
Type As tympanogram with a conductive hearing loss and with Carharts notch at 2kHz
What is the name of the surgery for otosclerosis?
Stapedectomy
What are the audiological findings of a break in the ossicular chain?
Type Ad tympanogram with a conductive hearing loss
What is tympanosclerosis?
Tissue changes on the eardrum from chronic ear infections (white chalky composites - scarring)
What type of response would we see for middle ear pathologies of ARTs?
None - all absent
What are the audiological findings of noise-induced hearing loss?
Normal tympanograms
SNHL especially in the higher frequencies with a noise notch between 3-6kHz, usually largest at 4kHz
What is presbyacusis? What are the audiological findings?
Known as age-related hearing loss
Normal tympanograms with SNHL starting in the high frequencies
What is manières disease? What are some symptoms? Audiological findings? Treatments?
Known as endolymphatic hydrops (accumulation of endolymph in the inner ear)
Causes vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, low-pitched tinnitus, aural fullness.
Normal tympanogram with low frequency SNHL that makes its way to other frequencies
Treatments include: low salt diet, diuretics, vertigo suppressants.
What is ototoxicity? List the 5 categories
Certain medications are toxic to the auditory system.
1. Aminoglycosides
2. Salycilates
3. Chemo
4. Diuretics
5. Anti malarial
Name the 4 aplasias of the cochlea
- Mondini
- Michel
- Scheibe
- Alexander
Which aplasia is known as the TOTAL absence of the cochlea?
Michel
Which aplasia is known to be the most common?
Scheibe
Describe dysplasia vs aplasia
Dysplasia is the abnormality in the development of a structure
Aplasia is the complete lack of development in a structure
What is a retrocochlear disorder?
An auditory disorder where the condition goes beyond the cochlea - to the auditory nerve or higher up
What is an acoustic neuroma? Audiological findings?
It is a retrocochlear disorder, known as the 8th cranial nerve tumour.
Causes hearing loss in the affected ear, unilateral tinnitus, vertigo/dizziness.
What is ANSD? Audiological findings?
Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (also retrocochlear)
It is known as auditory dysynchrony where the neurons do not fire when they are supposed to
It will show varying SNHL with poor WRS.
What is nonorganic hearing loss?
When someone is faking a hearing loss
What is the test used to determine if someone is faking a hearing loss?
The stenger test
What are 3 things we should look at when we are suspicious someone is faking a hearing loss?
- ARTs
- PT thresholds with SRT
- Using talk forward at lower levels
Name 5 red flags for referral
- Unilateral or pulsatile tinnitus
- Asymmetry or unilateral hearing loss
- Dizziness/vertigo
- 40% difference in WRS
- Sudden hearing loss
