Head to toe- ENT

Question 1

General objects and eqiupment

Answer 1

• Hearing aids
• Mobility aids- patients with vestibulocochlear nerve pathology causing both hearing and balance issues

Question 2

Gross hearing test

Answer 2

• Whisper test
• Make sure we do 1 bi-digit and 1 tri-digit

Question 3

Conductive vs sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 3

• Conductive hearing loss- occurs when sound is unable to effectively transfer at any point between the outer ear and middle ear
• Causes of conductive hearing loss include excessive earwax, ototis media/externa, perforated typanic membrane and otosclerosis
• Sensorineural hearing loss- occurs due to dysfunction of the cochlea and or vestibulocochlear nerve
• Causes- increasing age (Prebycusis), excessie noise exposure, genetic mutations, viral infections (cytomegalovirus) and ototoxic agents (e.g. furo/gent)
• sensorineural test are the Rinne and Webster test both using a tuning fork

Question 4

Inspection

Answer 4

• Look for symmetry
• Deformity
• Erythema- otitis externa
• Lesions
• Mastoiditis
• Lymphadenopathy

Question 5

Palpation

Answer 5

• Palpate tragus and aricle
• Califlower ear

Question 6

Otoscope

Answer 6

• Insert otoscope- hold up ear
• Comment on canal- look for wax, redness, swelling, discharge, foreign body
• Look at tympanic membrane- grey pearly membrane, light reflex- look for perforation, inflammation (otitis media) and bubbling (blocked eustachian tube)