Ear Disease Flashcards
what are the three types of hearing loss?
conductive
sensorineural
mixed
what type of hearing loss does otitis externa cause?
conductive
what is otitis externa?
inflammation of the skin of the ear canal
what causes otitis externa?
infection - bacteria or fungi
inflammation
name two fungi that can cause otitis externa
candida
aspergillus
what are three common triggers for otitis externa?
water
cotton buds
skin conditions
how does otitis externa present?
pain
hearing loss
discharge
who is more commonly affected by acute otitis media?
children
what commonly causes acute otitis media?
an URTI spreading up the eustachian tube
what antibiotic should be given if one is needed for acute otitis media?
amoxicillin
what type of hearing loss does acute otitis media cause?
conductive
who is more commonly affected by otitis media with effusion?
children
what is another name for otitis media with effusion?
glue ear
what is otitis media with effusion associated with?
eustachian tube dysfunction or obstruction
when otitis media with effusion occurs in adults, what causes need to be considered?
rhinosinusitis
nasopharyngeal carcinoma/lymphoma
what type of hearing loss does otitis media with effusion cause?
conductive
if a tympanogram is done in otitis media with effusion, what would be seen?
it would be flat
how can hearing loss in children present?
issues with speech and language
behavioural issues
what is a common cause of TM perforation?
acute otitis media
trauma
how does TM perforation heal?
usually spontaneously
what is cholesteatoma?
presence of keratin in the middle ear that erodes surrounding bone
how does cholesteatoma present?
hearing loss
discharge
how is cholesteatoma managed?
surgical excision
what are the possible complications of a cholesteatoma spreading medially?
sensorineural hearing loss
tinnitus
vertigo
facial palsy
what are the possible complications of a cholesteatoma spreading suepriorly?
brain abscess
meningitis
what are the possible complications of a cholesteatoma spreading posteriorly?
venous sinus thrombosis
what hearing loss does otosclerosis cause?
gradual onset conductive
who is more commonly affected by otosclerosis and why?
women
thought to be associated with high oestrogen
when does otosclerosis progress more rapidly?
pregnancy
what is otosclerosis?
the fixation of the stapes footplate
how can otosclerosis be treated?
hearing aids
stapedectomy
what is the most common cause of sensorineural hearing loss?
presbycusis
what sounds to patients with presbycusis have difficulties with?
high frequency sounds
what does the audiogram of someone with noise induced hearing loss look like?
a dip at 4kHz
how can noise induced hearing loss be prevented?
ear protection
what drugs can cause sensorineural hearing loss?
gentamicin
chemotherapy
aspirin and NSAIDs if overdosed
what is vestibular schwannoma?
a benign tumour in the internal auditory meatus
where does vestibular schwannoma expand into as it grows?
the cerebellopontine angle in the posterior cranial fossa
describe the rate of growth of a vestibular schwannoma
very slow
how does vestibular schwannoma present?
hearing loss and tinnitus worse in one ear
imbalance if large
what type of hearing loss does vestibular schwannoma cause?
sensorineural
how is vestibular schwannoma diagnosed?
MRI scan
what is haemotympanum?
when the middle ear is filled with blood and the TM appears red
what is the pattern of bruising seen in a base of skull fracture?
battle sign
what are three possible complications of skull fractures?
hearing loss
facial palsy
CSF leak
