Otology

Question 1

What are the common presenting symptoms in Otology cases?

Answer 1

hearing loss

tinnitus

vertigo

otalgia

otorrhoea

facial weakness

Question 2

How do the tuning fork tests and whispered voice tests work?

Answer 2

Tuning fork tests:

Rinne’s - Testing if AC > BC. Activate tuning fork, place forks in front of ear and then place base on mastoid process. ‘Which can you hear louder?’ If behind ear louder then BC > AC = -ve test, meaning conductive hearing loss, if louder in front of ear then +ve test and normal hearing.

Webers Test - Activate tuning fork and place on centre of forehead. Vibrations should be felt equally in both ears. If the patient suffers from sensorineural hearing loss in right ear for example, then the left ear will hear it louder. If the patient suffers with a conductive hearing loss in the left ear, then vibrations will be louder in the left ear.

Whispered voice Test - Whisper voice at 60cm behind patient, mask the other ear and no lip reading so must be stood behind patient

Question 3

What is Tinnitus and how is it managed?

Answer 3

What is it? - Any perception of sound

Pathology - Hearing loss & stress important factors but no directly treatable pathology

Investigation - Unilateral or pulsatile?

Treatment - sound enrichment and stress management

Question 4

What is acute otitis media with effusion (Glue Ear)?

Answer 4

This is when the Eustachian tube is not working properly, low pressure develops within the ear drum and then fluid starts to move in and cause the effusion

Question 5

How is Otitis Externa managed?

Answer 5

Antibiotics