Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

condition is diagnosed by examination
of the middle ear with an otoscope; the
eardrum will appear red and possibly
bulging outwards. Treatment is with
analgesic drugs, and sometimes antibi-
otic drugs, although many childhood
infections are viral.
One possible complication of otitis
media is glue ear (chronic secretory oti-
tis media), in which a thick fluid builds
up in the ear and affects hearing. It may
develop following severe or recurrent oti-
tis media, particularly in children. Other
complications include hearing impair-
ment and a cholesteatoma. In rare cases,
the infection responsible for otitis media
spreads inwards to cause mastoiditis.
oto- A prefix that denotes a relationship
to the ear, as in otorrhoea(discharge
from the ear).
otoacoustic emissionAn echo emitted
by the inner earin response to sound.
The emission is produced only by a nor-
mally functioning ear and is recorded in
a test to detect impaired hearing.
otomycosisA fungal earinfection that
causes inflammation of the ear canal
and external ear (see otitis externa).
otoplastyCosmetic or reconstructive
surgery on the external ear. This proce-
dure is usually carried out to make
protruding ears lie closer to the head.
Otoplasty may also be performed to
construct a missing ear in a child born
with part or all of one ear missing, or to
reconstruct a damaged ear.
otorhinolaryngologyA surgical spec-
iality, also known as ENT surgery, that is
concerned with diseases of the ear,
nose, and throat. ENT specialists treat

sinusproblems, otitis media, glue ear,

tonsillitis, minor hearing loss, otosclero-

sis, Ménière’s disease, airway problems

in children, uncontrollable nosebleeds,

and cancer of the larynxand sinuses.

otorrhoeaA discharge of pus or other

fluid from the ear (see ear, discharge

from).

otosclerosisA disorder of the middle

earthat causes progressive deafness.

The condition usually develops in both

ears. Otosclerosis occurs when over-

growth of bone immobilizes the stapes

(the innermost one of the three tiny

bones in the middle ear). As a result,

sound vibrations are prevented from

passing along the bone to the inner ear.

To an affected person, sounds are muf-

fled but can be distinguished more

easily if there is background noise.

Otosclerosis frequently runs in fami-

lies, and symptoms usually start to

appear in early adulthood. The condi-

tion affects more women than men, and

often develops during pregnancy. Hear-

ing loss progresses slowly over 10 to 15

years and is often accompanied by tin-

nitus and, more rarely, vertigo. A degree

of sensorineural deafness may develop,

making high tones difficult to hear and

causing the sufferer to speak loudly.

The condition is diagnosed by hearing

tests. It can be cured by stapedectomy, a

surgical procedure in which the stapes

is replaced by a tiny piston, which

moves through a hole created in the

inner ear. Because the piston can move

freely, it can transmit sound vibrations

to the inner ear. Alternatively, a hearing-

aidcan markedly improve hearing.

OTO- OTOSCLEROSIS

O

OTOSCLEROSIS

LOCATION

Overgrowth

of bone

immobilizes

base of stapes

Outer-ear canal

Eardrum

Middle ear

Inner ear

Stapes