Ear disorders

The ear is a biological marvel. It transfers sound waves from the air through elaborate channels into the inner ear and turns them into signals that the brain can interpret. The ears are connected with the nose and throat through the Eustachian tube. The middle ear is linked to the mastoid. Therefore, an infection in the middle ear can extend into the mastoid. This complexity makes the ear susceptible to infections, congenital disorders, and damage due to accident or occupational exposure. The most common disorders of the ear are perforated eardrum, occupational or age-related hearing loss, ear infections, otosclerosis, wax blockage, otitis media and others.

Otosclerosis is an ear disorder in which spongy bone grows over the oval window and immobilizes the stapes, leading to progressive loss of hearing. Otosclerosis is the most frequent cause of middle ear hearing loss in young adults. It is more common in women than in men. Symptoms usually become apparent between the ages of 15 and 35. They are gradual hearing loss in one or both ears and noise in the ear. This disorder can be corrected surgically. During surgery the oval window is covered by a fat pad or a synthetic membrane, and the stapes is replaced by a small rod connected to the fat or membrane over the oval window at one end and to the incus at the other.

Infections of the middle ear (otitis media) are common in young children. These infections usually result from the spread of infection from the mucous membrane of the pharynx through the auditory tube to the mucous lining of the middle ear. Otitis media occurs in four basic forms: serous otitis media, otitis media with effusion, purulent otitis media, and secondary otitis media. The symptoms of otitis media, consisting of low-grade fever, feeling of fullness in the ear, and irritability, are often not easily recognized by the parent as signs of middle ear infection. The infection can also cause a temporary decrease or loss of hearing because fluid buildup has dampened the tympanic membrane or ossicles. The treatment includes a course of antibiotics to fight the infection, nasal decongestants or antihistamines. In some cases a surgical incision in the eardrum is necessary.

Ex. 24. Read the following text and give a summary of it: