Ear and Eye Flashcards
(221 cards)
What are the general functions of the ear? Nerve?
o Balance and hearing
o CN VIII vestibulocochlear
• What hx questions would you ask for an ear complaint?
o pain: LMNOPQRST o any hearing loss? o any vertigo (dizziness)? o any tinnitus (ringing)? o any hx of recent infection? o any discharge? If so, how much (quantitative), what color? (qualitative)
• how do you do an ear PE?
o Vitals
o EENT, Otoscopic, insufflation, hearing tests (whispered voice, tuning forks), neurological, CVS
What labs might be indicated after an ear PE? Imaging?
o CBC, chemistry screen (CMP), culture any discharge
o x-ray, CT or MRI to evaluate masses
• what additional ear tests are there? What referral may be needed?
o audiology, tympanometry o EENT (otologist), neurologist, audiologist, etc.
• What are some general complaints regarding the ear (not always directly related to inner, middle, external?
o Hearing loss o Tinnitus o Vertigo o Earache (otalgia) o Ear discharge (otorrhea)
• What are the 2 types of hearing loss?
o Conductive and sensorineural (SNHL)
o 3rd type: mixed hearing loss (of C and S)
• What is conductive hearing loss?
o from (physical/mechanical) problems that limit movement of the sound wave through the external and middle ear.
• What are some causes of conductive hearing loss?
o obstructed external ear canal – eg. cerumen impaction, foreign body, exostosis, psoriasis
o perforated tympanic membrane – eg direct trauma, otitis media, or explosion
o dislocated ossicle (malleus, incus, or stapes) - trauma to the ear
o Otitis media or serous otitis media
o Otitis externa - infection of the ear canal that causes it to swell
o Otosclerosis or ossicular chain fixation
o Congenital: eg external auditory canal atresia
o Cholesteatoma: growth of squamous epithelium in middle ear
• What is sensorineural hearing loss?
o damage to the hair cells or nerves that sense sound waves (sensory problem in inner ear)
• what are some causes or associated conditions of SNHL?
o acoustic trauma - prolonged exposure to loud noises
o barotrauma (pressure trauma) or ear squeeze - eg divers, climbers
o head trauma - eg fracture of the temporal bone
o ototoxic drugs - Bilateral loss, hx of use.
o Infection – mumps, measles, influenza, herpes, mono, syphilis, meningitis
o Aging—presbycusis: progressive bilateral hearing loss (high pitches), normal neuro exam
o Acoustic neuroma - tumor in the auditory nerve.
o Sudden SNHL (SSNHL): unilateral hearing loss over 72 hr. Associated with microvascular event, head trauma
o Ménière disease - hearing loss, vertigo and tinnitus. Gradual onset, often progresses to deafness and severe vertigo
o vascular diseases eg sickle cell disease, diabetes, polycythemia, and excessive clotting
o Multiple sclerosis
• What are some examples of ototoxic drugs as causes of SNHL?
o antibiotics including aminoglycosides (gentamicin, vancomycin), erythromycin, and minocycline, tetracycline
o diuretics including furosemide
o salicylates (aspirin) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) ibuprofen, naproxen
o antineoplastics (cancer drugs)
o antimalarial drugs (quinine, chloroquine)
o cocaine—intranasal or IV
• what is tinnitus?
o perception of sound (eg buzzing, ringing, roaring clicks) in absence of an acoustic stimulus may be intermittent, continuous, pulsatile; unilateral or bilateral
• what are the types of tinnitus?
o Subjective- audible only to pt, high frequency, due to damage of fine hair cells
o Objective- rare, can be heard by listening directly over the patients ear
o other
• What is etiology of subjective tinnitus?
o Acoustic trauma; Presbycusis; Barotrauma; CNS tumors; Eustacian tube dysfunction; Infections (OM, labryinthitis, meningitis); Meniere disease; Ear canal obstruction (wax, foreign body, tumor); Drugs (salicylates, loop diuretics, cisplatin, aminoglycosides)
o Can accompany SNHL
• What is etiology of objective tinnitus?
o A-V malformations; Monoclonus (palatal ms, tensor tympani, stapedius); Turbulent flow in carotid A or jugular V; Vascular middle ear tumor (esp if unilateral—R/O by ordering CT)
• What are other types/causes of tinnitus?
o hyperlipidemia, allergies, diabetes, hypertension, hypotension, syphilis, cardiovascular, endocrine, and metabolic disease, TMJ disorders, cervical injuries, stress, dietary deficiencies, and intake of stimulants (nicotine, caffeine).
• What is the workup for tinnitus?
o Hx: get good description of “sound” (episodic/constant, pitch, quality)
o Ask re: noise exposure, head trauma, hearing problems, dizziness, loss of balance, recent dental problems/work, bruxism, stress, ototoxic drug use, smoking, caffeine, HTN, anxiety, insomnia
o PE: Otoscopic exam, cranial N VIII function and hearing (whispered, tuning fork tests)
o Check for: carotid artery bruits, HTN, oral exam, neck and jaw hypertonicity, TMJ dysfunction
o audiology, angiography
• what is vertigo?
o a type of dizziness; nonspecific term describing a sensation of altered spatial orientation “illusory movement”
o most often caused by dysfunction of the vestibular, visual, or proprioceptive (posterior column) systems, or by diffuse impairment of blood flow to the brain
what are subjective/objective vertigo? Common in which population?
o subjective if patient has the impression they are “moving in space” (self-motion)
o objective if objects “moving around” the patient (motion of the environment)
o more common in aging, increased incidence of falling in those > 65 years.
• What are the 2 classifications of vertigo?
o True vertigo- sensation of movt; most common; Caused by asymmetry in the vestibular system (CN8, inner ear, cerebellum)
o Non-vertigo - syncope, fainting or sensation of impending fainting
What are ssx of true vertigo?
o either surroundings are moving or patient is moving within surroundings
o Postural instability, nausea and vomiting common, sweating
o Vertigo is worse when moving head
o Nystagmus is commonly seen on eye exam (involuntary movements of the eye)
• What are some further classifications of true vertigo?
o i. Peripheral vertigo: labyrinth or CN VIII
o Central vertigo: cerebullum, vestibular cortex in temporal lobe
• Peripheral vs central vertigo: nystagmus?
o Peripheral: Unidirectional with fast component towards normal ear, horizontal with rotation
o Central: Any direction, sometimes changes direction