PE tubes are small tubes surgically placed in the ear drum to drain fluid and relieve pressure, commonly used to treat chronic ear infections in children. Otolaryngologists are ear, nose, and throat specialists who undergo extensive medical training and may specialize in specific areas like ENT surgery. Bone conduction tests like Rinne and Weber use tuning forks to help diagnose conductive versus sensorineural hearing loss.

1. Chapter 13 Knowledge Assignment Eyes & Ears Roberto Ayala Bio 120

2. Pressure Equalizing Tube Abbreviated as: PE tube. Small sections of hollow tubing that are surgically inserted through the ear drum. Alleviates chronic ear infection and fluid buildup in the ear.

3. Most frequently performed on children.

4. PE tubes remain in place for about a year, then fall out naturally.

5. Complications include: 1. Infection due to water, bacteria entering the tubes.

6. 2. PE tubes may need to be surgically removed if they fail to fall out. Photos Left: PE tube in ear drum. Right: Various PE tubes using a penny for scale.

7. Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Abbreviated as: EENT. The field of study is called Otolaryngology, Practitioners are called otolaryngologists or otorhinolaryngologists. Recognized as a specialty in the U,S, in the year 1924. The American Academy of Otolaryngology oversees the specialty. Medical school graduates face five years of training to qualify for specialty board examinations. Two years of further specialty training is available. Many practitioners take additional specialized training in specific areas related to their interests. . Otorhinolaryngologists are also trained as surgeons. One of the side benefits to patients is no need for to get a referral for a surgical procedure performed on the head and neck regions.

8. Bone Conduction Abbreviated as: BC. Bone conduction is the principle behind the Rinne and Weber tuning-fork tests. In both tests, how loud the patient is able to perceive sound determines what type of hearing loss could be affecting them. Conductive Hearing Loss Occurs when sound waves are unable to pass through the outer or middle ear. Typically caused by earwax buildup, inflammation of the outer ear (otitis externa), inner ear (otitis media), or a perforated eardrum. Sensorineural Hearing Loss Occurs when sound is unable to be perceived by the cranial nerve, the inner ear, or the brain. Typically caused by congenital defects, sudden or/and progressive exposure to loud noise (concerts, iPods), inflammatory diseases (mumps, meningitis) , drugs (aspirin), and physical trauma. Both Rinne and Weber tests are no substitute for modern audiometry tests.

9. Both Ears Abbreviated as: AU. Derived from the Latin phrase “aures unitas,” or both ears. Usage Risk : AS, AD, and AU are left ear, right ear, and both ears. When in doubt, write out “both ears,” rather than risk an abbreviation. Further confusion can rise between AU and AUD (doctor of audiology), and AV (antrioventricular).

10. Otitis Media Abbreviated as: OM. Known as a middle ear infection and commonly found in children, this condition is caused when pathogens move into the middle ear from the pharynx through the eustachian tubes. Fluid can accumulate in the middle ear, causing further discomfort and infection. Untreated, hearing loss, and eardrum damage can occur. A Pressure Equalizing Tube (PE tube) can be surgically inserted through the eardrum to relieve pressure and drain accumulated liquid trapped in the middle ear cavity. Right: A well developed case of otitis media.

11. Emmetropia Abbreviated as: EM Emmetropia is a state of normal vision. A person with normal vision possesses vision of 20/20 acuity or better. In life science terms, normal vision occurs when light entering the eye is focused directly on the retina. Light that is focused in front of the retina is the cause of near sightedness. Light that has a focal point behind the retina causes far sightedness.