This document defines common abbreviations used in relation to the eye and ear, including PE Tube for pressure equalizing tube surgically placed in the eardrum, EENT for eyes, ears, nose, and throat physician, BC for bone conduction hearing aids, AU for both ears, OM for middle ear infection, EM for normal vision, XT for outward turning of the eye, OS for left eye, EOM for eye movement, and VA for visual activity. It provides brief explanations of the meaning and usage for each abbreviation in medical records and documentation.

1. Special Senses: The Eye and The EarAbbreviations

2. PE TubeStands for Pressure Tube EqualizingSmall tube surgically placed in a child’s eardrum to assist in drainage of trapped fluid and to equalize pressure between the middle ear cavity and atmosphere

3. EENTStands of eyes, ears, nose, and throatCan be used to describe a physician

4. BCStands for bone conductionThe conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skullSome hearing aids use bone conduction

5. AUStands for both earsCan be used in medical records in order to describe both ears or a condition affecting both earsExample: There is hearing loss in AU (both ears)

6. OMStands for otitis mediaMeans inflammation in middle ear or middle ear infectionoccurs in the area between the end of the outer ear and the inner ear including theEustachian tubeCommonly called an Earache

7. EMStands for emmetropiaNormal condition of vision

8. XTStands for ExtropiaOutward turning of the eyeCommonly called wall-eyedAn example of muscle weakness fo the eye (strabismus)

9. OSStands for Left EyeCan be used in medical records to describe a condition or stateExample: There is a cataract in the OS (left eye)

10. EOMStands for extraocular movementMeans eye movement

11. VAStands for Visual ActivityMeans the eyes can actively see

12. ReferencesMedical Terminology: A Living Languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_conductionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otitis_media