Hearing Loss Flashcards
what are the different types of hearing loss?
conductive
sensorineural
mixed
what is the pathophysiology of conductive hearing loss?
impaired sound transmission via the external canal and the middle ear ossicles to the foot of the stapes
Inner ear can still analyse signal
what are the different causes of conductive hearing loss?
o External canal obstruction
o Drum perforation
o Problems in the ossicular chain
o Inadequate eustachian tube ventilation of the middle ear
what are the causes of external canal obstructive causes in conductive hearing loss?
wax, pus, debris, foreign body, development anomalies, otitis externa, exostosis (suffers ear, abnormal bone growth in ear canal, gradual hearing loss), tumour, stenosis
what are the causes of drum perforation causes of conductive hearing loss?
trauma, barotrauma, infection
what are the causes of ossicular chain problems in conductive hearing loss?
otosclerosis, infection, trauma, otitis media, cholesteatoma, middle ear tumour, congenital malformation
what will an audiogram in conductive hearing loss show?
impairment in all frequencies
what is the management of conductive hearing loss?
treat underlying cause - will respond to treatment
surgical, pharmaceutical, supportive
what is the pathophysiology of sensorineural hearing loss?
results from defects central to the oval window in the cochlea (sensory), cochlear nerve (neural), or rarely, more central pathways
signal cannot be transmitted to brain
what are the causes of sensorineural hearing loss?
o genetic, congenital, presbycusis (age related), acquired (nose induced) o Ototoxic Drugs o Post Infective o Cochlear vascular disease o Meniere’s disease o Trauma o Rare
what are the ototoxic drugs associated with sensorineural hearing loss?
streptomycin, vancomycin, gentamicin, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, vinca alkaloids)
what are the post infective causes of sensorineural?
meningitis, measles, mumps, flu, herpes, syphilis (damage cochlear)
what are the rare causes of sensorineural hearing loss?
acoustic neuroma, B12 deficiency, MS, brain mets
what is important to exclude in sensorineural hearing loss?
If unilateral exclude acoustic neuroma, cholesatoma , effusion from nasopharyngeal cancer
what is the shape of the audiogram in sensorineural hearing loss?
sloped
what is the pharmaceutical management of sensorineural hearing loss?
vitamins, vasodilators, anti-inflammatories
what is the definition of sudden hearing loss?
loss of >30dB in 3 contiguous pure tone frequencies over 3 days
Hearing loss may be sudden and abrupt, or rapidly progressive
what is the management of sudden hearing loss
depends on cause, high dose steroids (prednisolone), hyperbaric O2 therapy
what are the different kinds of hearing aids?
conventional
bone anchored hearing aids
cochlear implant s
what are the different types of conventional hearing aids?
Behind the ear (BTE)
In the Ear (ITE)
In the canal (IC)
what are the features of BTE hearing aids?
consists of a case hanging behind the pinna
case is attached to an earmold by a tube or wire
tube or wire courses from superior-ventral protion of pinna to choncha, where the earmold inserts into external auditory canal
what is the structure of BTE hearing aids?
case contains the electronics, controls, battery + microphone
when at BTE hearing aids used?
good in severe hearing loss, versatile, good balance between ease and appearance
what are the features of ITE hearing aids?
Fit in the outer ear bowl (concha)
Custom made (mould taken)