Otorhinolaryngology vocabulary Flashcards
acoustic neuroma
neur/o = nerve -oma = tumor
benign tumor of the cochlear nerve sheath; symptoms include tinnitus, headache, vertigo, and progressive hearing loss
American Sign Language (ASL)
nonverbal method of communicating in which the hands and fingers are used to indicate words and concepts; used by people with hearing impairment and/or speech impairment
antiemetic drugs
anti- = against -emetic = pertaining to vomiting
medications used to treat the nausea associated with vertigo
cochlear implant
cochle/o = cochlea -ar = pertaining to
hearing device surgically placed under the skin behind the ear; converts sound signals into electrical impulses to stimulate the cochlear nerve
croup
acute respiratory condition common in infants and children; symptoms include a barking cough
deafness
inability to hear or having some degree of hearing impairment
decongestant
de- = without
medication to reduce nasal and sinus stuffiness and congestion
diphtheria
bacterial upper respiratory infection; characterized by formation of thick membranous film across the throat and high mortality rate; uncommon now due to diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) vaccine
endotracheal (ET) intubation
endo- = within trache/o = trachea -al = pertaining to
inserting tube through the mouth and into the trachea; creates an open upper respiratory airway
epistaxis
nosebleed
falling test
group of tests to evaluate balance and equilibrium; for example, balancing on one foot, heel-toe walking, and walking forward with eyes open; test is repeated with the patient’s eyes closed; swaying and falling with eyes closed can indicate an equilibrium malfunction
hearing aid
device used by persons with impaired hearing to amplify sound; also called an amplification device
Meniere’s disease
acute or chronic inner ear condition; can lead to a progressive hearing loss; symptoms include vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus
nasal cannula
nas/o = nose -al = pertaining to
two-pronged plastic device for delivering oxygen directly into the nose; one prong is inserted into each naris
otitis externa (OE)
ot/o = ear -itis = inflammation
external ear infection; frequently caused by fungus; also called otomycosis; common name is swimmer’s ear
otitis internal (OI)
ot/o = ear -itis = inflammation
inflammation of the inner ear; can affect both hearing and equilibrium; also called inner ear infection
otitis media (OM)
ot/o = ear -itis = inflammation
bacterial or viral infection of the middle ear; common in children; often preceded by an upper respiratory infection during which pathogens move from the pharynx to the middle ear through the auditory tube; commonly referred to as a middle ear infection
pertussis
bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract; uncommon now due to DPT vaccine; commonly called whooping cough due to the “whoop” sound made when coughing
pressure-equalizing tube (PE tube)
small tube surgically placed in the eardrum; assists in draining trapped fluid and equalizing pressure between the middle ear cavity and the atmosphere
Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests
tests to assess both the function of the cochlear nerve and the ability of ear structures to conduct sound waves to the inner ear; physician holds a tuning fork against or near the bones on the side of the patient’s head
tinnitus
ringing in the ears
vertigo
sensation of spinning or whirling around; incorrectly used to mean dizziness
wax emulsifiers
medication used to soften earwax and prevent its buildup in the outer ear canal
