MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY - Chapter 13 - Special Senses - EAR

Acous/o

hearing

Audi/o

hearing

Audit/o

hearing

Aur/o

ear

Auricul/o

ear

Bi/o

life

Cerumen/o

cerumen

Cochle/o

cochlea

Labyrinth/o

labyrinth

Laryng/o

larynx

Myc/o

fungus

Myring/o

tympanic membrane

Neur/o

nerve

Ot/o

ear

Presby/o

old age

Py/o

pus

Rhin/o

nose

Salping/o

auditory tube

Staped/o

stapes

Tympan/o

tympanic membrane

Vestibul/o

vestibule

-algia

pain

-emetic

pertaining to vomitting

-itis

inflammation

-plasty

surgical repair

-scope

instrument to visually examine

Anti-

against

acoustic

Pertaining to hearing

auditory

Pertaining to hearing

monaural

Pertaining to one ear

otic

Pertaining to the ear

tympanic

Pertaining to the tympanic membrane

audiology

Medical specialty involved with measuring hearing function and identifying hearing loss.  Specialist is an audiologist

otorhinolaryngology

abbreviation: ENT

Branchy of medicine involving the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.  Also referred to as ENT.  Physician is an otorhinolaryngologist.

Macrotia

condition of having abnormally large ears

Otalgia

ear pain

Otopyorrhea

discharge of pus from the ear

Otorrhagia

bleeding from the ear

Presbycusis

normal loss of hearing that can accompany the aging process

Tinnitus

ringing in the ears

Tympanorrhexis

rupture of the tympanic membrane

Vertigo

dizziness

anacusis

Total absence of hearing or the inability to perceive sound; total deafness

deafness

Inability to hear or having some degree of hearing impairment

Ceruminosis

excessive accumulation of earwax resulting in a hard wax plug

Otitis Externa

abbreviation: OE

external ear infection caused by fungus or bacteria; also called otomycosis or swimmer’s ear

Otomycosis

fungal infection of the ear

myringitis

Inflammation of the tympanic membrane

otitis media

abbreviation: OM

Infection of the middle ear with fluid accumulation; fluid may be watery (serous otitis media) or full of pus (purulent otitis media)

tympanitis

Inflammation of the tympanic membrane

Acoustic neuroma

benign tumor of the eighth cranial nerve sheath; symptoms include tinnitus, headache, dizziness, and progressive hearing loss

Labyrinthitis

inner ear infection; may cause problems with hearing and equalibrium

Meniere’s disease

abnormal condition with the labyrinth that can lead to progressive hearing loss; ptjer symptoms include vertigo and tinnitus

audiogram

Graphic record of audiometry results

audiometry

Test of hearing ability that determines the lowest and highest intensities and frequencies a person can distinguish

Otoscopy

process of examining the ear canal, outer ear, and eardrum, using an otoscope

falling test

Assesses equilibrium; the patient is observed standing on one foot, then with one foot in front of the other, then walking forward, first with eyes open and then with eyes closed

American Sign Language

abbreviation: ASL

Nonverbal method of communication in which the hands and fingers are used to indicate words and concepts

assistive listening device

abbreviation: ALD

Devices that amplify sound and work to separate speech from background noise; may be used with or without a hearing aid; particularly helpful in public spaces such as theaters or restaurants

hearing aid

Apparatus or mechanical device used by persons with impaired hearing in to amplify sound

Cochlear implant

mechanical device surgically placed behind the outer ear; converts sound into magnetic impulses to stimulate the auditory nerve; used to treat profound sensorineural hearing loss

Myringectomy

surgical removal of the tympanic membrane

Myringoplasty

surgical repair of the tympanic membrane

Myringotomy

surgical puncture of the eardrum to drain fluid and pus from the middle ear; a pressure equalizing tube is then placed in the tympanic membrane

Otoplasty

surgical repair of the external ear

Tympanectomy

surgical removal of the tympanic membrane

Tympanoplasty

surgical repair of the tympanic membrane

antibiotic otic solution

USE: Ear drops to treat otitis externa

EXAMPLE: Neomycin, Otocort

antiemetic

USE: Treats nausea associated with vertigo

EXAMPLE: Antivert, Compazine

wax emulsifier

USE: Softens earwax to prevent buildup in the external ear canal

EXAMPLE: Debrox drops

ALD

assistive listening device

ASL

american sign language

EENT

eyes, ears, nose, and throat

ENT

ears, nose, and throat

HEENT

head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat

OE

otitis externa

OM

otitis media

SOM

serous otitis media