Ear Disorders Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the assessment, diagnosis, and management of common ear disorders in adults based on NURS 620 lecture notes.

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

A middle ear condition defined by the abrupt onset ($<48\,\text{hrs}$) of symptoms, the presence of middle ear effusion, and signs or symptoms of middle ear inflammation.

Otitis Media with Effusion (OME)

Fluid in the middle ear without signs of inflammation, typically caused by a blockage of the Eustachian tube.

Acute Otitis Externa (OE)

Also known as "Swimmer’s Ear," it is an inflammation of the auditory canal lining that occurs when the "acid mantle" and cerumen fail to protect the ear.

Meniere’s Disease

A condition caused by swelling in the semicircular canals and damage to hair cells, characterized by vertigo, tinnitus ("roaring or clanging"), and unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV)

A sudden onset of vertigo triggered by specific head positions, caused by free-floating particles in the posterior semicircular canal.

Presbycusis

The most common pattern of hearing loss in older adults, specifically a bilateral high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss.

Weber test

A diagnostic test where a tuning fork is placed on the forehead; sound lateralizes toward the affected ear in conductive loss and toward the normal ear in sensorineural loss.

Rinne test

A test comparing air conduction (AC) to bone conduction (BC); normal is $AC > BC$, while conductive loss is indicated when $BC > AC$.

Epley maneuver

A therapeutic procedure used to manage Benign Positional Vertigo (BPV) by repositioning particles in the ear.

Dix-Hallpike Maneuver

A physical exam technique used to evaluate dizziness and determine if a vestibular malfunction is central or peripheral.

Pneumatic otoscopy

An examination tool used to assess TM mobility; findings of an inflamed, bulging, and immobile TM are diagnostic for AOM.

Impacted Cerumen

Wax build-up that occludes the ear canal, leading to pain, pressure, and hearing loss.

Amoxicillin

The first antibiotic choice (high-dose) for the management of Acute Otitis Media.

AOM Pathogens

The primary organisms responsible for infection: Strep pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.

Otitis Externa Pathogens

The most common organisms causing the infection: Pseudomonas, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis.