ENT Flashcards
How do you perform Weber’s test ?
Place tuning fork in centre of patients forehead ask patient if they can hear the sound and which ear is loudest
what is Weber’s test in sensorineural hearing loss?
sound will be louder in the normal ear
what is Weber’s test in conductive hearing loss?
louder in the affected ear
how do you perform Rinne’s test?
Place the flat end of the tuning fork on the mastoid process (the boney lump behind the ear) – this tests bone conduction
Ask the patient to tell you when they can no longer hear the humming noise
When they can no longer hear the noise, remove the tuning fork (still vibrating) and hover it 1cm from the same ear
Ask the patient if they can hear the sound now – this tests air conduction
Repeat the process on the other side
what is an abnormal Rinne’s test?
bone conduction is better than air conduction
this suggests conductive hearing loss
State 3 causes of sensorineural hearing loss
Presbycusis
Noise exposure
Ménière’s disease
Labyrinthitis
Acoustic neuroma
Neurological conditions (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis or brain tumours)
Infections (e.g., meningitis)
Medications
name 3 types of medications that can cause sensorineural hearing loss
Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide)
Aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g., gentamicin)
Chemotherapy drugs (e.g., cisplatin)
State 3 causes of conductive hearing loss
Ear wax
Infection (e.g., otitis media or otitis externa)
Fluid in the middle ear (effusion)
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Perforated tympanic membrane
Otosclerosis
Cholesteatoma
Exostoses
Tumours
State 3 risk factors for Presbycusis
Older Age
Male gender
Family history
Loud noise exposure
Diabetes
Hypertension
Ototoxic medications
Smoking
what sound is affected first in Presbycusis ?
high-pitched sounds
What is the investigation of choice for establishing the diagnosis and extent of hearing loss?
Audiometry
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as …..
hearing loss over less than 72 hours, unexplained by other causes
how does Eustachian tube dysfunction present?
Reduced or altered hearing
Popping noises or sensations in the ear
A fullness sensation in the ear
Pain or discomfort
Tinnitus
What are the treatment options for Eustachian tube dysfunction?
No treatment, waiting for it to resolve spontaneously (e.g., recovering from the viral URTI)
Valsalva manoeuvre
Decongestant nasal sprays (short term only)
Antihistamines and a steroid nasal spray for allergies or rhinitis
Surgery may be required in severe or persistent cases
What is Otosclerosis?
Remodelling of the small bones in the middle ear, leading to conductive hearing loss
what is the inheritance pattern of otosclerosis?
autosomal dominant
what is the typical presentation of otosclerosis?
patient under 40 years presenting with unilateral or bilateral:
Hearing loss
Tinnitus
what sound is more affected in otosclerosis?
lower-pitched sounds
what is the most common cause of bacterial otitis media?
streptococcus pneumoniae
Others:
Haemophilus influenzae
Moraxella catarrhalis
Staphylococcus aureus
what are the presenting features of otitis media?
Ear pain
Reduced hearing
fever
coryzal symptoms
what is the appearance of otitis media on otoscopy?
bulging, red, inflamed looking membrane
when should you consider immediate antibiotics for otitis media?
significant co-morbidities, are systemically unwell or are immunocompromised
what antibiotics are given in otitis media (if required)?
Amoxicillin for 5-7 days first-line
Clarithromycin (in penicillin allergy)
Erythromycin (in pregnant women allergic to penicillin)
State 4 complications of otitis media
Otitis media with effusion
Hearing loss (usually temporary)
Perforated tympanic membrane (with pain, reduced hearing and discharge)
Labyrinthitis (causing dizziness or vertigo)
Mastoiditis
Abscess
Facial nerve palsy
Meningitis
The inflammation in otitis externa may be caused by:
Bacterial infection
Fungal infection (e.g., aspergillus or candida)
Eczema
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Contact dermatitis
What are the 2 most common bacterial causes of otitis externa?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Staphylococcus aureus
what are the typical symptoms of otitis externa?
Ear pain
Discharge
Itchiness
Conductive hearing loss
what will examination of otitis externa show?
Erythema and swelling in the ear canal
Tenderness of the ear canal
Pus or discharge in the ear canal
Lymphadenopathy
what is the management of mild otitis externa?
acetic acid 2%
what is the management of moderate otitis externa?
topical antibiotic and steroid
what is malignant otitis externa?
severe and potentially life-threatening form of otitis externa. The infection spreads to the bones surrounding the ear canal and skull. It progresses to osteomyelitis of the temporal bone of the skull.
what key finding indicates malignant otitis externa?
Granulation tissue at the junction between the bone and cartilage in the ear canal
what is the management of malignant otitis externa?
Admission to hospital under the ENT team
IV antibiotics
Imaging (e.g., CT or MRI head) to assess the extent of the infection
what are the complications of malignant otitis externa?
Facial nerve damage and palsy
Other cranial nerve involvement
Meningitis
Intracranial thrombosis
Death