OE Disorders
This congenital malformation means “small ear” and involves an underdeveloped auricle.
Microtia
A hole develops in the structure that normally vibrates in response to incoming sound waves. What disorder is this?
Tympanic membrane perforation.
Which hearing disorder is associated with the aging process?
Presbycusis.
Which two disorders from lecture affect the auditory pathways?
Cochlear nerve aplasia and acoustic neuroma.
A disorder affects the pinna. Which normal hearing function could be disrupted?
Collection and deflection of sound.
What is the difference between stenosis and atresia?
Stenosis is narrowing of the ear canal; atresia means “no hole.”
Which middle-ear disorder involves the Eustachian tube not properly equalizing pressure?
Eustachian tube dysfunction.
Which disorder can result from brief intense sound, long-term noise/music exposure, or acoustic trauma?
Noise-induced hearing loss.
What does BPPV stand for?
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.
A disorder affects the Eustachian tube. Which normal function could be disrupted?
Pressure equalization between the atmosphere and ME.
A bony growth creates stenosis in the external auditory meatus. What disorder is this?
Exostosis/Osteoma (Surfer’s ear)
A patient has infection and inflammation with fluid buildup in the middle ear. What disorder is this?
Otitis media.
Which nonsyndromic disorder involves the GJB2 gene and is a common genetic cause of hearing loss?
Connexin 26.
The auditory/cochlear nerve is which cranial nerve?
CN VIII
A disorder damages cochlear hair cells. Which major part of the hearing process would be affected?
Sound encoding in the cochlea.
Cerumen completely obstructs the external auditory meatus. What part of the normal hearing process would be affected?
The direction/transmission of sound through the external auditory meatus would be affected. The outer ear normally directs sound through the EAM.
Which middle-ear disorder involves a growth behind the tympanic membrane and is considered an ear emergency?
Cholesteatoma.
A person is born with abnormal or absent development of the cochlea. What disorder is this?
Cochlear aplasia.
This disorder involves the congenital absence of the cochlear nerve.
Cochlear nerve aplasia.
A disorder blocks the EAM. What part of the hearing process is disrupted before sound reaches the middle ear?
The direction/transmission of sound through the EAM is disrupted. This could occur with disorders such as atresia, exostosis/osteoma, or cerumen impaction.
A patient has microtia. Name one treatment discussed in lecture AND explain whether that treatment necessarily restores hearing to WNL.
Surgical reconstruction with rib, MEDPOR ear, or prosthetic ear. Most treatments are cosmetic and do not restore hearing WNL.
A disorder prevents the middle ear from properly vibrating, amplifying, and transmitting sound. Name TWO disorders that could interfere with these functions.
Tympanic membrane perforation, otitis media, Eustachian tube dysfunction, or cholesteatoma.
Why can cochlear aplasia have a major effect on hearing? Name the normal cochlear process that is disrupted.
The cochlea is responsible for amplification and sound encoding, so cochlear aplasia disrupts sound encoding.
Why could a disorder of the cochlear nerve affect hearing even if sound has already been encoded in the cochlea?
Inner hair cells send the sound message to the auditory nerve, so a disorder affecting that nerve can interfere with the signal continuing from the cochlea toward the brain.
Why does the specific location of a hearing disorder matter for the hearing process?
The location determines which part of hearing is disrupted - sound collection/direction, vibration/amplification/transmission, cochlear encoding, or transmission of signals to the brain.