Ear Flashcards
the external part of your ear/auditory canal is called the
pinna or auricle
3 bones of the middle ear
stapes, incus, malleus
2 things the inner ear does
balance and hearing
the functional organ of hearing is called the
cochlea
what part of the ear is responsible for balance
semi-circular canals
ways to test hearing
whisper test
audiometry (headphones, raise your hand when you hear)
external otitis is also known as
swimmers ear
manifestations of external otitis (swimmers ear)
pain when touching the auricle (ear)
muffled hearing
serosanguineous/purulent fluid coming from the ear
low grade fever
trt for external otitis (swimmers ear)
moist heat to ear
mild analgesia
topical anesthetic
topical antibiotic ear drops with steroids
why do we want to give steroids for external otitis
helps with inflammation of the ear canal
how soon should symptoms resolve after trt for external otitis
within 48 hrs
why do we want to use a wick when administering medication to the ear
less painful - wick sucks medicine down into inflamed, painful ear
what temp do you want to keep ear drops
room temp
what would happen if you applied cold drops to ear
effect inner ear (balance)
tip of dropper should never touch ear/eye, t or f
true
what do we use to treat earwax (cerumen)
debrox
effect of cerumen (ear wax) on the ear
effects hearing - can be painful
foreign bodies should be irrigated out of the ear (corn) t or f
false, pushes further back in, refer them to ENT, expands
s/s of ear infection
pain, red/bulging ear drum
is an ear infection caused by viral or bacterial
can be both
why are kids more prone to ear infections
Eustachian tube is shorter/straighter- tonsils/adenoids are enlarged
which way do you access an Adults ear for viewing
up and back
which way do you access a child’s ear for viewing
down and back
when viewing the ear what do we want to see
cone of light (reflection)
pearly gray tympanic membrane
the cone of light will be visible at these locations (L/R)
5 o’clock on right
7 o’clock on left
trt for ear infection
amoxicillin
what happens in a myringotomy
a scalpel is used to put a hole in the tympanic membrane - addition of a tube aids drainage of the ear
how long does the tube stay in w/myringotomy w/tube
6-12 months
what do you teach a parent of child with myringotomy with tube
keep the ear dry
what makes kids more prone to getting ear infections that we can modify
bottle feeding, second hand smoke, propping of bottle
can we have fluid in the ear that does not get infected
yes - otitis media with infusion (fluid in the ear)
do we treat otitis media with infusion with antibiotics
no - just watch it - fluid can remain for up to 3 months
chronic ear infections can lead to
cholesteatoma
what is cholesteatoma
a bunch of squamous cells
what can happen if a cholesteatoma is not removed
it can destroy mastoid bone
when caring for pt after cholesteatoma place them with operative side up or down
up
what is tested during/after ear surgery
cranial nerve monitoring
take drink to assess for drooling
ask pt. to whistle
what type of dressing is applied and how is it cared for after ear surgery
ear shield w/cling wrapped around being sure to make sure it’s not too tight
what will we suspect with hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus
inner ear problems
more common inner ear infection
meniere’s disease
cause for meniere’s disease
unknown
patho for meniere’s disease
“labyrinth for balance” pressure builds up in inner ear - burst - fluids mix
inner ear diseases are identified by
ruling out all other causes
what is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
“ear rocks” - crystals of calcium in the semicircular ear
what treatment is used to help with vertigo
epley maneuver - try to get ear wax to move to better spot in the ear
what is presbycusis
normal hearing loss of aging - sounds are muffled
what type of hearing loss does a cochlear implant work for
sensory-neural hearing loss
