Pathologies of middle ear are usually tested for through audiometry or tympanmetry, which is the testing of the impedance of middle ear system.

• Middle ear infection

• Common in children

• Seasonal

• Diagnosed through otoscopy

• Can be bilateral or unilateral

• Can cause fluid buildup

• Pain, discomfort, popping symptoms

Ottis media, otherwise known as an ear infection, is an infection and inflammation of the outer and middle ear. This causes conductive hearing loss, since the outer and middle ear are effected, but the inner ear is fine.

Can be treated through topical treatment, or antibiotics, oral or drops

Can also be treated through surgery if severe, Many kids get tubes to stop getting these infections.

Causes conductive hearing loss

• Occurs when tube gets inflamed or clogged

• Common in children due to the size of their tube

• Typically goes away on own, but can use at home remedies to help

• Can lead to ottis media

• Can cause pain and difficulties hearing

Can cause mild to moderate conductive hearing loss

• Tear in ear drum

• Connects canal and middle ear

• Caused by trauma, infection, change in pressure

• resolves on own, but can be fixed with surgery if severe

• Cause vertigo, hearing loss, pain

Causes conductive hearing loss

Buildup of calcium on ear drum not effecting hearing

Actue or Chronic versions

Two types:

Granular myringitis: deals with external ear and goes to ear drum, may have ear drainage

Bullous myringitisis: deals with inflammation of middle ear and pain

• Calcium builds up on ear drum and middle ear.

• Abnormal growth in middle ear from birth or ear infections

• Begins as sac or cyst

• Can cause pain, drainage, hearing loss, pressure, vertigo

• Causes conductive hearing loss

Two types:

Cogenitial: develops in womb

Acquired: developed through middle ear infections

• Caused conductive hearing loss, or mixed if severe

• Very difficult to cure, antibiotics not effective

(Georgakopoulos and Gondal, 2020.)

Leads to conductive hearing loss due to location

• Abnormal growth of bone in middle ear

• Effects ossicles and temporal bone

• Effects on oval window can lead to conductive hearing loss

• Effects on cochlea lead to sensorineural hearing loss

• Can be treated by removing stapes, closing oval window, create opening in footplate

• Drop in bone conduction at 2000 Hz called Carhart's Notch

• Conductive hearing loss

(Laitakari and Löppönen, 1994.)

• Refers to when one of the ossicles breaks

• Can also be joint that breaks

• Causes conductive hearing loss because sound isn't transported through the chain to rest of ear