Sound & Hearing Pathways
This is the normal pathway for sound to travel to the inner ear.
What is air conduction (AC)?
This type of hearing loss involves mechanical dysfunction of the external or middle ear.
→ What is conductive hearing loss?
This inner ear structure helps maintain balance and spatial orientation.
What is the labyrinth?
The correct tool for viewing the tympanic membrane.
→ What is an otoscope?
This ear infection commonly occurs in children due to Eustachian tube obstruction.
→ What is otitis media?
This type of conduction bypasses the outer ear and transmits vibrations through the skull.
What is bone conduction (BC)?
This type of hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear, cranial nerve VIII, or auditory cortex.
→ What is sensorineural hearing loss?
Inflammation of the labyrinth causes this spinning sensation.
What is vertigo?
The normal color and appearance of the tympanic membrane.
→ What is shiny, translucent, and pearly gray?
This infection, also known as “swimmer’s ear,” involves redness, swelling, or discharge from the canal.
→ What is otitis externa?
The cochlea interprets these two components of sound.
What are amplitude (volume) and frequency (pitch)?
When a person has both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss in the same ear.
→ What is mixed hearing loss?
This test assesses the vestibular system and cerebellum’s ability to maintain balance.
→ What is the Romberg test?
When examining an adult ear, pull the pinna in this direction.
→ What is up and back?
A child tugging at their ear, crying, and having a fever likely has this condition.
→ What is otitis media?
Amplitude is measured in this unit, while frequency is measured in this one.
What are decibels and hertz?
A young adult (20–40 years) with gradual hardening of the stapes likely has this condition.
→ What is otosclerosis?
A staggering gait and a strong spinning sensation indicate inflammation of this part of the ear.
→ What is the inner ear (labyrinth)?
When examining a child under 3, pull the pinna in this direction.
→ What is down and back?
Pain when pulling on the tragus suggests this condition.
→ What is otitis externa?
This part of the ear interprets both amplitude and frequency.
What is the cochlea?
This age-related type of hearing loss affects high-frequency tones and sound localization.
→ What is presbycusis?
The vestibular apparatus works with this part of the brain to maintain balance.
→ What is the cerebellum?
A dense white patch on the tympanic membrane from repeated ear infections.
→ What is scarring?
Pain over the mastoid process may indicate this complication.
→ What is mastoiditis?