Ear Structure & Function
Normal Pathway for Hearing
What is air conduction?
Lip reading, difficulty following conversation, frowning or leaning forward when someone is speaking.
What are signs of hearing loss?
Sinus cavities located in cheek area next to nose.
What is maxillary sinuses?
Have patient occluded one nostril and stiff
What is testing for nasal patency?
PERRLA
What is pupils equal, round, react to light and accommodation?
What is conductive hearing loss?
Ringing, crackling or buzzing in ears (most obvious when all other sounds are quiet)
What is tinnitus?
Individuals experiencing this phase of life may experience increased nasal stuffiness and nosebleeds.
What is pregnancy?
Patient repeats phrase that has been spoken from a short distance behind them
What is whisper test?
What are preauricular?
Inflammation in this structure can lead to vertigo.
What is the labyrinth?
Direction to move pinna when assessing 2 y/o child.
What is down?
Difficulty Swallowing
What is dysphagia?
Examiner looks to see if light is reflecting in the same position on both eyes.
What is Hirschberg test/corneal light reflex?
Positive results of this test indicates kidney inflammation
What is CVA (costovertebral angle) tenderness?
Younger children are at increased risk of ear infection due to a change in the shape of this structure.
What are eustachian tubes?
Shiny, translucent, and pearly gray.
What is characteristics of a normal tympanic membrane?
Tonsils that are touching the uvula
What is 3+ tonsils?
Test that can identify changes in peripheral vision
What is confrontation test?
This tuning fork test compares air conduction to bone conduction.
What is Rinne test?
This type of sensorineural hearing loss is most commonly experienced by older adults.
What is presbycusis?
Reflection @ 5:00 on the right and 7:00 on the left.
What is cone of light?
Infection that causes patchy, white discoloration to buccal mucosa and/or tongue, commonly shows in immunosuppressed individuals.
What is candidiasis (yeast) infection?
"Follow my finger with your just your eyes, no moving your head/chin"
What is diagnostic positions test (six cardinal positions of gaze)?
If a patient is positive for this test/sign they can be experiencing gallbladder inflammation.
What is inspiratory arrest (Murphy's sign)?