Hearing Loss Flashcards
What are the reasons for hearing loss?
Flying/traveling
Infection
Aging
3 Segments of the Ear
Outer
Middle
Inner
What parts are involved in sensorineural hearing loss?
Inner ear
Cochlea
Auditory nerve
What parts are involved in conductive hearing loss?
Any cause that limits external sound into the inner ear
What is mixed hearing loss?
Combination of sensorineural and conductive hearing loss
Outer Ear Causes of Hearing Loss
Congenital: microtia
Infection: otitis externa
Trauma: penetrating trauma to external auditory canal
Tumor: SCC
Benign tumor growths: exostosis and osteoma
Systemic disease: DM or immunocompromised
Cerumen
Define Exostosis
Multiple bony growths within the ear canal due to exposure to cold water
Define Osteoma
Bony growth along the typano-ossicle suture line
Middle Ear Causes of Hearing Loss
Congenital: malformation/fixation of oxxicles
ET dysfunction: viral infection, sinusitis, allergies
Infection: otitis media
Tumors: cholesteatoma
Otosclerosis
Tympanic membran perforation
Bartrauma
Define Otosclerosis
Bony overgrowth of the footplate of the stapes
Inner Ear Causes of Hearing Loss
Non-hereditary congenital: insult to cochlea, viral infections Hereditary congenital: Mondini Presbycusis: old age Infection: viral Miner disease Trauma: skull culture Tumors: acoustic neuroma Ototoxic Drugs
Define Mondini
Cochlea only turns 1.5 times instead of the normal 2.5 times
Types of Ototoxic Drugs
Aminoglycosides
Erythromycin
Tetracycline
Cisplatin
Symptoms of Hearing Loss Include
Unilater/bilateral hearing deficit
Difficulty understanding speech, conversations, TV/radio
Social withdrawal
Weber test lateralized to the “good” ear
Sensorineural hearing loss
Weber test lateralized to the “bad” ear
Conduction hearing loss
BC > AC + Weber test lateralizes to that side
Conduction hearing loss
Weber lateralizes to ear which Rinne is normal but contralateral Rinne test is abnormal
Sensorineural hearing loss
Examination of the Ear
Pneumoscopy
Formal audiologic assessment
Non-mobile TM in Pneumoscopy
Fluid/mass in middle ear
Stiff or sclerotic TM
Hypermobile TM in Pneumoscopy
Ossicular chain disruption
Treatment of Congenital in Conductive Hearing Loss
Surgery if possible
Bone conduction hearing aide
Treatment of Infections in Conductive Hearing Loss
Antibiotics
Treatment of Trauma in Conductive Hearing Loss
Surgery if possible
Treatment of Otosclerosis in Conductive Hearing Loss
Surgery to replace immobile stapes
Hearing aide
Treatment of Trauma in Conductive Hearing Loss
Corticosteroids
Treatment of Trauma in Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Corticosteroids
Treatment of Menieres Disease in Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Low-sodium diet
Diuretics
Corticosteroids
Treatment of Tumors in Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Surgery
Radiation
Treatment of Irreversible Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Hearing aides
Cochlear implant
