Two most common causes of hearing loss
high intensity noise exposure and age related hearing loss (presbycusis)
Outer Ear Disorders can be easily spotted during...
Otoscopy
Collapsing Ear Canals are most commonly seen in what should be used during testing
infants and the elderly
- inserts to help open the ear, supra aural headphones do not show appropriate hearing
Mircotia
A broad term used for more pronounced malformations of the ear
Atresia
Absence of an outer ear and canal with small remnants of tissue
Anotia
Complete absence of an outer ear
What is the typical hearing loss for people with microtia
conductive or mixed
Otitis Externa what can it lead to
Inflammation of the outer ear, meaning the ear canal is infected
- pose a health problem rather than a concern for loss of hearing
Stenosis
a narrowing or restriction of the ear canal from abnormal infection/inflammation
What are the two types of Bony Abnormalities
Osteoma and Exostosis
Osteoma
Greek words : bone and tumor - growths projecting into the ear canal on a stalk
-usually found in ONE ear
Exostosis
Greek words : out and bone
- hard growths towards the TM
- typically found in BOTH ears
, How is Exostosis often formed
exposure of ear canal to cold water - "surfers ears"
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction in children and adults
kids - very small diameter and an especially small opening at the end near the middle
ear
- also oriented horizontally rather than a vertical direction like most adults, causing fluid
to remain still and build up.
adults - Pressure equalization is crucial for allowing fluid to move out of the middle ear.
- Those with inflammation of the eustachian tube might find difficulty during elevation
changes
Patulous Eustachian Tube
- eustachian tube has difficulty closing
- whooshing sounds, typically produced by the air
Tympanic Membrane Perforations
Perforations are typically associated with trauma, middle ear disease, or surgical
procedures
- Cotton swabs and pens are common causes
- also a sharp blow to the outer ear
- common in military combat
Spontaneous Rupture: of TM
Can occur in patients with excessive inflammation and a significant increase in pressure
in the middle ear space.
Otitis Media types and meaning
ear, inflammation, and middle - "ear infection"
broad spectrum of diseases
- Acute Otitis Medi
- Purulent Otitis Media
- Recurrent Acute Otitis Media
- Otitis Media w/ Effusion
What type of hearing loss occurs for patients with otitis media
Patients can lose about 25-30dB. Typically, a conductive loss unless an already
sensorineural loss is present.
How does Otitis media develop
1. Ongoing eustachian tube dysfunction usually leads to negative air pressure in the
middle ear space. Oxygen in the middle ear space
2. bacteria is already in the middle ear space, making it the leading cause of infection.
Acute Otitis Media