Otology Flashcards
What the 6 common ear symptoms?
- Hearing Loss
- Tinnitus
- Otalgia
- Otorrhoea
- Facial Weakness
- Vertigo
How do we examine the ears?
Physical:
- Otoscope
- Microscope
Hearing:
- Tuning fork (Rinne’s & Weber’s)
- Whispered Voice Tests
Explain the tuning fork tests
Rinnes:
- Air vs Bone Conduction
- IF B>A then theres conductive hearing loss in that ear
Webers:
- Tuning fork to forehead
- If its louder in one ear then its either conductive loss in that ear or sensorineural in the opposite
What investigations can be done for hearing?
- Pure Tone Audiogram
- Tympanogram
How do we interpret the results from a pure tone audiogram
It measures how quiet a sound you can hear at various frequencies
We can also do it with bone vs air conduction
What are the result ‘types’ from a tympanogram?
Type A - normal
Type B - Immobile Tympanic membrane
Type C - Low Middle Ear pressure
List the common disorders of the outer ear?
Auricular Haematoma
- ‘Cauliflower ear’
- Needs to be drained
Foreign Body
Otitis Externa
- Itching, pain, discharge & hearing loss
- Abx/steroid eardrops
Malignant Otitis Externa
- Osteomyelitis of the temporal bone
- Months of systemic Abx
List some common disorders of the middle ear?
- Otitis Media with effusion (glue ear)
- Acute Otitis Media
- Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media
- Tympanosclerosis
- Otosclerosis
Define otitis media with effusion?
Eustachian tube isnt working causing a vaccum in the middle ear that draws out fluid from the lining
How do we treat ‘glue ear’?
If the hearing loss is persistant over months or affects their work/school then put in a grommet.
A Grommet is a tube through the ear drum that allows pressure to equalise in the middle ear
How does acute otitis media present?
Increasing pain leading to a perforated ear drum
The pain then goes away and the drum heals
What are the types of chronic suppurative otitis media?
Either with:
- Perforated Tympanic Membrane
- Cholesteatoma
What is a cholesteatoma?
Abnormal skin growth in the middle ear.
The skin forms a pouch so it doesnt shed, instead it builds up. Eroding structures of the ear, facial nerve and into the brain
List some common disorders of the inner ear?
Presbycusis
- Age related hearing loss
- It starts at the higher frequency
Noise Induced Hearing Loss:
- Also starts at higher frequency
Ototoxic Meds e.g. Gentamicin
Meniere’s Disease
Head Injury
Infection
Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma)
What is a vestibular schwannoma?
A benign tumour of the vestibular nerve
Causes sensorineural hearing loss in one ear