2. PE tube: Pressure Equalizing Tube
A common surgical procedure
performed in the U.S.
A small plastic or metal tube is placed
in the tympanic membrane to equalize
the pressure behind the eardrum and
to allow for adequate drainage of any
fluid within the middle ear space.
PE tubes have been shown to decrease
frequency of ear infections without
compromising the hearing function.
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3. EENT: Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
Eye: Complex organ that captures light and transforms it into impulses
that the brain can interpret as images.
Ear: Consisting of three parts; the outer, middle, and inner ear. Hearing
begins when sound waves interact with the middle ear, causing the ear
drum to vibrate.
Nose and Throat: Nose is a dual functioning organ for the sense of
smell and entry for the respiratory tract. Throat is a
passageway connecting the back of the mouth to the nose and the
esophagus to the trachea.
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4. BC: Bone Conduction
Sound is heard in two different ways -
air conduction and bone conduction.
Air conduction are sound waves
traveling from the outer ear, through
the middle ear to the inner ear. Bone
conduction are sound waves traveling
directly through the skull to the inner
ear.
The skull conducts lower frequency
better than air, so a voice sounds much
lower and fuller than when recorded.
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5. AU: Both Ears OS: Left Eye
When you see an O, think of an eye since it is round.
For the A, remember “audio” which is heard through the ears.
For S, think of “south” and Left-handed boxers being dubbed southpaw.
When you see U, imagine it as a face, needing both eyes or ears.
Abbreviation hints
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6. OM: Otitis Media
Otitis Media is any inflammation to the middle ear without reference to
cause or development of a disease.
It is most common in children.
There are three main classifications of OM; Acute Otitis Media (AOM),
Otitis Media with Effusion (OME), and Otitis Externa (swimmer’s ear).
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7. EM: Emmetropia
The normal condition of perfect vision.
Parallel rays of light are all brought
accurately to focus upon the retina.
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8. XT: Exotropia
A form of eye mis-alignment which refers to eyes that turn outward.
The opposite of cross-eyed.
Exotropia can occur intermittently or may be constant and identified in
all age groups.
There are several different forms of exotropia; congenital, intermittent,
sensory, and consecutive exotropia which can result after treatment for
esotropia (cross-eyed).
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9. EOM: Extraocular Movement
Normally the eyes move together in concert. When the left eye moves, the
right eye moves in the same direction.
This coordinated movement depends on the innervation 3 cranial nerves that
connect to 6 extraocular muscles around each eyeball, allowing movement in
all directions.
A test evaluating the movements can indicate disorders of the eye organ
system, nerve palsies,
myopathies, or orbital bone
fractures.
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10. VA: Visual Acuity
Visual acuity is the sharpness, or clearness of vision.
It is a quantitive measure to identify black symbols
on a white board at a standardized distance as the
size of the symbols is varied. It is the most common
clinical measurement for visual function.
VA of 20/20 is a person who can see detail from 20
feet away the same as a person with normal eyesight
at 20 feet away.
VA of 20/40 is a person who can see detail from 20
feet away the same as a person with normal eyesight
at 40 feet away.
It is possible to have 20/10 VA (the maximum acuity
for the human eye). In comparison, hawks have a VA
of 20/2.
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