Ears/Nose/Mouth/Throat Flashcards
(43 cards)
function of the EARS
the SENSORY ORGANS that are responsible for our HEARING & maintaining EQUILIBRIUM
what are the THREE PARTS of the ear?
- EXTERNAL EAR **only part we typically assess
- MIDDLE EAR
- INNER EAR
important assessment for MASTOID PROCESS location
can be an indication of BRAIN INFECTION - MENINGITIS (if swollen/abnormality)
tympanic cavity / what should it look like?
the SMALL AIR-FILLED CHAMBER within the TEMPORAL BONE
- should be ROUND, PEARLY, and GRAY in appearance
what is the MAIN DIFFERENCE between CONDUCTIVE HEARING LOSS & SENSOINEURAL HEARING LOSS?
CONDUCTIVE;
often will affect the OUTER EAR/issue regarding bones
SENSORINEURAL;
often will affect a little bit of the MIDDLE/INNER EAR/issue regarding the nerves
definition of HEARING LOSS
anything that is OBSTRUCTING the transmission of sound that begins to IMPAIR HEARING
what are some RISK FACTORS for hearing loss?
- OTOTOXIC MEDS; these are strong antibiotics –with a high dosage; can cause hearing loss
- ILLNESS/FEVER
- amount of NOISE EXPOSURE
- OLDER ADULTS
- PREMATURE BIRTHS
labyrinth
inner ear structure that CONSTANTLY FEEDS INFO to the brain about specific BODY POSITION within space
how does the LABYRINTH WORK?
works similar to a PLUMB LINE–helps to determine verticality or depth
- also considers position in relation to GRAVITY
what happens if our LABYRINTH is INFLAMED?
- can send WRONG INFO to the brain
- causes STAGGERING GAIT
- can cause VERTIGO
- increases FALL RISK
what is typically found in OLDER ADULT’s ears?
- dried CERUMEN often with IMPACTION
presbycusis
AGE-RELATED + GRADUAL progressive SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS
important to look for during the PHYSICAL EXAM of the ear
- proper symmetry
- any signs of trauma, lesions, drainage, or swelling
- note any changes in color, size, shape
what CN are we testing? what tests can we use?
testing the AUDITORY/VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR CN VIII
- can use the WHISPER VOICE TEST
- WEBER/RINNE TEST
what are the TWO PARTS OF the VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE?
- AUDITORY PART
damaged; DEAFNESS/TINNITUS - VESTIBULAR PART
damaged; VERTIGO/IMBALANCE
conductive hearing loss
soundwaves cannot PASS THROUGH the MIDDLE EAR to the INNER EAR
what can CAUSE CONDUCTIVE HEARING LOSS?
- INFECTIONS
- EARWAX BUILDUP
- PUNCTURED EARDRUM
- FLUID within the MIDDLE EAR
- DAMAGE to bones within MIDDLE EAR
sensorineural hearing loss
where there is DAMAGE to any part of the SPECIALIZED NERVOUS SYSTEM of the ear
(the CN VIII, HAIR CELLS)
what can CAUSE SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS?
- long exposure to LOUD NOISES
- AGING
Rinne test
- compares AIR CONDITION to BONE CONDUCTION
- AIR; air vibration by the ear (ear canal/ear drum)
- BONE; vibration through the bone – picked up by the nervous system
explain the Weber test
- tuning fork is PLACED ON MIDDLE OF THE HEAD
- asking patient where sound is best heard; L/R ear or EQUALLY
results;
**should be EQUAL ON BOTH EARS
**if CONDUCTIVE; heard best in ABNORMAL EAR
**if SENSOINEURAL; heard best in NORMAL EAR
rinne test results
should have a LONGER AIR CONDUCTION time vs. BONE CONDUCTION **around 2x
**if CONDUCTIVE =
BONE CONDUCTION > AIR CONDUCTION
**if SENSOINEURAL =
AIR CONDUCTION > BONE CONDUCTION
otitis externa
an INFLAMMATION of the AUDITORY CANAL & the EXTERNAL SURFACE of the TYMPANIC MEMBRANE
acute OTITIS MEDIA
inflammation in the MIDDLE EAR; often due to MIDDLE EAR EFFUSION/infection of bacteria
