Disorder of the Conductive Auditory Mechanism MIDDLE EAR

anotia

absence of the outer era

microtia

malformation of the outer ear

otitis externa

swimmers ear or outer ear infection

stenosis

narrowing of EAC

atresia

absent or closed ear canal

otomycosis

fungal infection EAC

exostoses

bony growth in EAC, common in cold water swimmers

Osteoma

bony tumor in EAC

Grade 1

smaller than normal, but the ear has mostly normal anatomy

Grade 2

part of the ear looks normal, usually the lower half

the canal may be normal, small or be completely closed

Grade 3

Just a small remnant of “peanut-shaped” skin and cartilage

there is no canal, which called aural atresia

Grade 4

complete absence of both the external ear and the ear canal, also called “anotia”

Outer ear includes

pinna and ear canal up to tympanic membrane

3 types of disorders of conductive disorder

congenital/structural, occluding, inflammatory

congenital/structural types and causes

often obvious at birth, often unilateral, no discomfort

genetic or hereditary, disruption in embryo development, toxins during fetal development

examples of congenital/structural conductive disorder

atresia, microtia, anotia, cauliflower ear

treatment for microtia

surgery/cosmetic surgery

occluding types and causes

can happen at any time often unilateral may have discomfort

cerumen impaction, foreign body

occlusion treatment

topical, mechanical removal including curette and/or suction irrigation, surgical removal

inflammatory types and causes

often unilateral, may be uncomfortable, often visible on pinna

infectious, allergic reactions, tumors & cysts, cancers, injury or trauma, post-surgical reaction

examples of inflammatory disorders

chondritis, otitis externa, dermatitis, sunburn or frostbite

inflammatory treatments

topical medication, systemic medication, surgical intervention, oncology

malignant

spreads to distant sites

Tympanic membrane disorders

may be unilateral or bilateral, may cause mild to moderate CHL, often painful, visible via otoscopy

can be congenital/structural, can be inflammatory

treatments include medication or surgery

Middle ear disorders

beyond TM, everything within the tympanum up to oval window of inner ear

Middle ear disorders

eustachian tube, otitis media, mastoiditis, otosclerosis, ossicular discontinuity, cholesteatoma