Otology Flashcards
Name six common presenting symptoms in otology cases
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
- Otalgia (pain)
- Otorrhoea (discharge)
- Facial weakness
What is otoscopy?
Inspection of the ear canal with an otoscope
What are the benefits of microscopic examination of the ear?
- Magnification
- Three dimensions
- Suction (wax or debris to improve visualisation)
Name three examination techniques to determine hearing loss?
- Rinne’s test
- Weber’s test
- Whispered voice test
What is the process of the rinne’s test?
Tuning fork places on mastoid process and then exterior ear, important for patient to distinguish which is heard loudest
Explain a postive result of a Rinne’s test
- Normal ear: AC > BC
- Sensorineural hearing loss: inner ear not working, but as outer and middle ear is working so AC and BC is reduced in proportion so will still be positive
Explain a negative Rinne’s test result
Conductive hearing loss: BC louder than AC as sound waves are not conducted through outer or middle ear, but bypasses middle ear and travels to inner ear
What is the process of a Weber’s test?
Tuning fork placed on the middle of the forehead and sound travels through the skull to the inner ear
Explain a ‘central’ result of a Weber’s test?
Hearing is symmetrical (R ear = L ear)
Explain a ‘lateralises to left’ result of a Weber’s test with right ear hearing loss?
If there is hearing loss in the R ear, sound lateralises to the left
Explain a ‘lateralises to right’ result of a Weber’s test with right ear hearing loss?
Conductive hearing loss in right ear but hear is better in right ear as no other sound waves are travelling through ear compared to left to distract signal from tuning fork
Describe the process of the whispered voice test
- Whispered voice at 60cm
- Mask other ear
- No lip reading
Describe the process of a pure tone audiogram?
Hearing test used to identify hearing threshold levels of an individual
What indicates normal hearing from a pure tone audiogram?
Hearing better than 20dB
What indicates conductive hearing loss from a pure tone audiogram?
Bone conduction better than air conduction
What indicates sensorineural hearing loss from a pure tone audiogram?
Bone conduction is the same as air conduction
What is sensorihearing loss?
Damage to the hair cells in the inner ear or to the nerve pathways that lead from the inner ear to the brain
Name two investigations for hearing loss?
- Pure tone audiogram
* Tympanogram
What is a tympanogram?
Investigation to determine the relationship between the air pressure in the ear canal and the movement of the ear drum
Describe a normal tympanogram reading
Normal middle ear pressure and compliance
On graph: peak pressure under the ear drum is 0 (equal to atmospheric pressure)
Describe a low compliant tympanogram reading
Low middle ear compliance - no movement in ear drum due to perforation or fluid in the ear drum
On graph: line is flat
Describe a low pressure tympanogram reading
Low middle ear pressure - usually due to malfunction of Eustachian tube
Name three management strategies for auricular haematoma?
- Incision and drainage
- Pressure dressing
- Antibiotics
Need to prevent cartilage becoming infected and necrosing as difficult to correct
Name a complication of an auricular haematoma
Cauliflower ear
Describe the management of foreign body in the ear canal
Urgent removal as can affect nasal/oral cavity if infection is prolonged
What are Otitis Externa?
Inflammation of external auditory meatus
Name three symptoms of otitis external
- Hearing loss (debris blockage)
- Pain
- Discharge
Describe the management of otitis externa
- Antibiotic/steroid ear drops
* +/- suction under microscope
What is suggested to prevent otitis externa?
No water or cotton buds in ear
What is malignant otitis externa?
Osteomyelitis of temporal bone