Ears

External ear

external auditory canal, tympanic membrane

Middle ear

malleus, incus, stapes, eustachian tube

Inner ear

vestibule, semicircular canals, cochlea, auditory nerve, equilibrium

External structures function

gather sound waves, funnel down ear canal to tympanic membrane

Levels of auditory system

peripheral, brainstem, cerebral cortex

Pathways of hearing

air conduction, bone conduction

Conductive hearing loss

blockage, ear discharge, foreign object, ear infection

Sensorineural hearing loss

nerve issue, congenital hearing loss, trauma, exposure to hazardous noise level

Common/Concerning Symptoms

hearing loss, earaches, discharge, tinnitus, vertigo

Steps of Ear Assessment

inspection, palpation

Pinna (Auricle) inspection

deformities, lumps, lesions, ear pain, discharge, inflammation

Pinna (Auricle) palpation

pull up on pinna, press tragus, press behind ear

Keloid

overgrowth of scar tissue

Chondrodermatitis Helicis

small nodular lesion

Otitis Media

inflammation of middle ear, ear infection, no pain on palpation, may have discharge, TM is red, TM is bulging

Otitis Externa

swimmer's ear, ear canal is red, tender to palpation, painful to pull on pinna, TM is not visible

Tympanosclerosis

scarring of TM

Serous Effusion

fluid in ear

Acute Otitis Media with Purulent Effusion

pus in ear

PE Tubes

pressure equalizer tubes

Presbycusis

age-related hearing loss, 20-50% of people > 40 yrs