Outer/Middle Ear Disorders
What otoscopic findings would you expect in exostoses?
Bony growths in the ear canal
What is a noise notch on the audiogram?
Decrease in hearing sensitivity that occurs around 4000 Hz on the audiogram, though it can also occur at 3000 Hz or 6000 Hz. These are observed on audiograms where the patient has significant noise exposure
True or False: Humans can easily regenerate outer hair cells following noise damage.
False!
What otoscopic findings are expected for acoustic neuroma?
Unremarkable
What tympanogram finding do you expect for a perforated eardrum?
Type B with large ear canal volume
What are three different domains that could be impaired for someone with Central Auditory Processing Disorder?
1. Temporal processing
2. Pitch perception
3. Binaural processing
4. Processing in noise
At which frequencies on the audiogram would you be most likely to observe a noise notch?
3000 Hz, 4000 Hz, or 6000 Hz
True or False: Tinnitus retraining therapy teaches the brain to fix the tinnitus.
False! Focused on changing mindset towards tinnitus.
Normal hearing listeners speak louder in noisy environments, which may make hearing in noise easier for patients with conductive hearing loss. We expect that patients with conductive hearing loss will show excellent word recognition scores given enough volume.
What is the difference between labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis?
Vestibular neuritis only involves vestibular symptoms, while labyrinthitis involves both vestibular and auditory symptoms.
What are the three factors that contribute to the degree of damage from noise?
1. Distance
2. Loudness
3. Duration
What would you expect to observe on the audiogram for a sudden hearing loss?
Rapid change in hearing, asymmetrical, sensorineural
What are possible tympanograms for a patient with otitis media - and when would you expect to observe them?
Type C - early on with Eustachian tube dysfunction
Type B or As - later on as glue ear develops
Type B or As - later on with suppurative production
Type B - otitis media with effusion develops last
What auditory case history symptoms are expected for BPPV?
BPPV is not associated with hearing symptoms, so you're not expecting the patient to notice any significant changes in hearing or new changes in auditory perception.
TTS results in hearing recovery while PTS results in permanent damage.
True or False: A patient on ototoxic medication is likely to experience a sensorineural hearing loss.
What is dormant otitis media and why is it dangerous?
Unresolved otitis media that occurs when medication is discontinued for an initial otitis media diagnosis. The overt symptoms temporarily go away. The unresolved bacteria is stronger than before and can be resistant to antibiotics
This genetic disease is associated with bilateral acoustic neuromas.
Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2)
Describe how the phantom limb theory relates to the onset of tinnitus.
Presence of hearing loss diminishes auditory signal transmission to the brain resulting in the brain creating a sound, which is perceived as tinnitus.
True or False: Chronic otitis media is likely to affect acoustic reflex thresholds.
True!