The Outer Ear Disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What are the functions of the outer ear?

A
  1. It houses the pinna & auditory meatus
  2. Collects and directs sound waves to tympanic membrane
  3. Provides directional ques
  4. Resonance provides increase in sound pressure from 2-7kHz
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2
Q

What part of the outer ear should you know?

A
  1. Crus (Helix)
  2. Tragus
  3. Lobule
  4. Concha (Cymba & Cavum)
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3
Q

For the external auditory meatus, describe the outer portion…

A

It’s made of cartilage, has hairs and its where ear wax is formed

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4
Q

For the external auditory meatus, describe the inner portion…

A

It’s made of bone and it has no hairs and ear wax is not formed here

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5
Q

Why shouldn’t we use Q-tips?

A
  1. Can lead to buildup of earwax in the inner portion
  2. Slows down cleaning process of the ear
  3. Can damage eardrum
  4. Can cause abrasions and leads to infection
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6
Q

Describe the texture of the outer portion of the ear canal

A

Starts out floppy and becomes more rigid as you age out of childhood and then sags when you get older

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7
Q

When does a collapsed canal form?

A

As we get older, our ears sag

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8
Q

Define a collapsed canal

A

It’s when the ears droops and leads to a narrow space and less wax buildup in the outer portion

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9
Q

What happens when we put pressure on a collapsed canal?

A

It can close since its more floppy

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10
Q

With the devices we’re using during testing, how can it affect someone with a collapsed canal?

A

If we use a Supra-Aural earphone can cause the ear canal to close off and this creates a conductive hearing loss

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11
Q

For the EAM, what are the two concerns?

A
  1. Knowing why Q-tips aren’t effective
  2. Change in rigidity of cartilage with age
  3. Collapsed canals
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12
Q

The ____ forms the beginning of the outer ear and the _____ends it?

A

pinna, TM

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13
Q

How many layers are there for the TM?

A

3

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14
Q

What is the umbo?

A

The head of malleus

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15
Q

What is the cone of light?

A

aka Light Reflex is a reflection of the TM from the otoscope light

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16
Q

What makes up the TM?

A
  1. Three layers
  2. Umbo
  3. Cone of light
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17
Q

How do we look to see if something is wrong with the ear canal or the eardrum?

A

By performing an otoscopy

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18
Q

What is an otoscope?

A

It’s a lighted magnifier to view the ear canal/TM

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19
Q

What are two things you must do when using an Otoscope?

A
  1. Must pull up and back on pinna to straighten out the ear canal
  2. Must brace head to prevent accidental trauma
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20
Q

Why must we pull back on the ear canal?

A

To see past the bends of our ear canal and to see our TM

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21
Q

What could cause harm to our patient?

A

Performing an otoscopy

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22
Q

When performing an otoscopy, what are we looking for?

A

Anything: Wax (too much or not enough), debris, trauma, & signs of infections (behind the eardrum)

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23
Q

What are the 2 functions for our having ear wax in our ears?

A
  1. It keeps bugs out

2. Prevents ear canal from getting dry and itchy

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24
Q

If a hearing loss is present and the only problem is in the outer ear what kind of hearing loss is it?

A

Conductive HL

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25
Q

Define Conductive Hearing Loss

A

Is when hearing is loss is present when doing AC but hearing is normal when BC is done

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26
Q

If additional problems exist in the cochlea, what kind of hearing loss is present?

A

Mixed

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27
Q

How else can disorders of the outer ear occur?

A

From syndromes associated with craniofacial anomalies

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28
Q

State examples of these symptoms

A
  1. Down Syndrome
  2. Treacher Collins
  3. CHARGE
29
Q

Does our testing account for the real world benefits the auricle provides?

A

No

30
Q

What should we know about disorders that only affect the auricle?

A

It will not result in a hearing loss on the test

31
Q

What should we note about our patient that has a disorder of the auricle?

A

Even though our test did not pick it up, they may face slight difficulties in the real world but it’s not enough to warrant treatment of hearing loss

32
Q

Define Preauricular tags

A

It’s a skin tag that’s in front of ear and it’s a sign of incomplete embryological development

33
Q

Can preauricular tags coexist w/other ear malformations or only in isolation?

A

Both

34
Q

When are we worried about preauricular tags?

A

When there’s less hearing and more aesthetics

35
Q

Define Microtia/Anotia

A

Is a small pinna or no pinna

36
Q

What is a Grade 1 microtia?

A
  1. It’s the least severe
  2. Ear is smaller than normal
  3. Landmarks will be there to make it a typical pinna
  4. May have an ear canal
37
Q

What is Grade 2 microtia?

A
  1. Worst
  2. Fewer features of the ear
  3. May have an ear canal
38
Q

What is Grade 3 microtia?

A
  1. More severe
  2. The most typical
  3. Looks like a flap
  4. Typically, no ear canal
39
Q

What is the worst form of microtia?

A

Anotia

40
Q

What ear features consist of anotia?

A
  1. No pinna presents
  2. Most severe form
  3. Lower set hairline
  4. Can have an ear canal but miss the pinna
41
Q

What informs us of a hearing loss for Microtia/Anotia?

A

If an ear canal is missing

42
Q

T/F: Disruption during development will typically affect pinna and ear canal?

A

T

43
Q

What is microtia often accompanied with?

A

Atresia & Stenosis

44
Q

Define atresia

A

It’s the absence of an ear canal

45
Q

Define stenosis

A

Ear canal starts out narrow and are normally genetically

46
Q

Why is using a supra-aural headphone for stenosis okay?

A

There wouldn’t be a concern of the ear canal closing off vs a pt with a collapsed canal

47
Q

Which test would be effective for someone with atresia and why?

A

BC - since the test is not focused on the ear canal, but on the cochlea

48
Q

Define Cerumen Impaction

A

Is a temporary hearing loss until ear wax is removed

49
Q

How do you know when our ear is impacted?

A

If the entire ear canal is filled with cerumen and the TM cannot be visualized

50
Q

Can cerumen impaction cause hearing loss? Which one? and how long is last?

A

Yes, Conductive Hearing Loss & it’s only temporary

51
Q

Define Otitis Externa

A

It’s an infection that occurs on the skin of the EAC

52
Q

What’s another name for Otitis Externa?

A

Swimmer’s Ear

53
Q

Otitis externa can be…

A

Fungal & Bacterial

54
Q

If a patient has an otitis externa, can an audiological evaluation be done?

A

No, because swelling and pain/discomfort

55
Q

Define Exostoses

A

Bony growth in the inner portion of the ear canal

56
Q

What’s another name for exostoses?

A

Surfer’s ear

57
Q

Do exostoses cause hearing loss?

A

It typically doesn’t

58
Q

What causes disorders of the TM?

A

Infections, Trauma/Injuries, and Increase pressure of the ear canal

59
Q

T/F: Every perforation results into a HL?

A

F

60
Q

For disorders of the TM, what determines a HL?

A
  1. Depends on size and location
61
Q

What size perforation affects the TM from working properly?

A

The bigger the perforation, it will cover the malleus

62
Q

When does a spontaneous intervention not occur?

A

The bigger the perforation

63
Q

What happens w/o a spontaneous closure?

A
  1. All three layers don’t always grow back,
  2. It may grow back thinner and flopper
  3. Can lead to a greater risk of perforation reoccurring
64
Q

What’s the purpose of a myringoplasty?

A

It’s a surgery where an artificial covering is used to cover the perforation on the TM to give a false eardrum

65
Q

When does TM thickening occur?

A

After infection/trauma leads to scarring/thickening of TM

66
Q

Can a thinning or thickening of the TM occur?

A

Yes

67
Q

What’s the name for scarring on the TM?

A

Calcium plaques

68
Q

Does thickening or thinning of the TM cause HL

A

No, it does not cause noticeable HL