{"id":433,"date":"2020-11-10T13:42:26","date_gmt":"2020-11-10T18:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ent-docs.fm1.dev\/ear\/middle-ear\/"},"modified":"2021-05-19T14:09:07","modified_gmt":"2021-05-19T18:09:07","slug":"middle-ear-conditions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/ent\/middle-ear-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Middle Ear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [{\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is mastoiditis? \",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"The medical term for infection of the mastoid cells is mastoiditis. The condition affects children more often than adults since they are most prone to middle ear infections, but can strike adults on occasion. In addition to pain and discomfort, a middle ear infection can cause tiny air cells in the mastoid bone to fill up with pus. As the infection spreads, potentially reaching the brain, the bone is destroyed, resulting in hearing loss. If antibiotics are unsuccessful in clearing up the infection, then mastoid surgery may be needed.\"\n    }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \" What causes a mastoid infection? \",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Bacteria migrate from the middle ear to the air cells of the mastoid bone, which are essential for proper drainage of fluid. Cholesteatoma, a type of skin cyst, can also prevent the ear from draining properly leading to mastoiditis.\"\n    }\n   }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What are the symptoms of mastoiditis?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Symptoms of mastoiditis include swelling, redness, and tenderness of the ear lobe and area behind the ear as well as drainage of fluids from the ear, fever, irritability and lethargy.\"\n  }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How is mastoiditis diagnosed?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Mastoiditis can cause serious \u2013 even life-threatening \u2013 health complications if untreated, so proper diagnosis is a crucial first step toward recovery. Our doctor will examine your ears with an otoscope, looking for signs of infection. Diagnostic tests such as a CT scan or MRI may be administered to help rule out other conditions.\"\n    }\n   }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"How is mastoiditis treated?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Many cases of mastoiditis are treated successfully with antibiotics. Chronic cases may require frequent visits for thorough ear cleanings. When antibiotics fail to treat the problem adequately, or it recurs frequently, surgery may be necessary.\"\n  }\n  }, {\n    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n    \"name\": \"What is mastoid surgery?\",\n    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n      \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n      \"text\": \"Mastoid surgery, or mastoidectomy, involves drilling a hole in the mastoid bone and removing the infected air cells. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and many patients return home later the same day. Afterwards, your ears will be bandaged, and there may be stitches. You might experience headaches, discomfort and numbness. You\u2019ll likely be prescribed pain medication and antibiotics, and will need to return after a few days to have your bandages and stitches removed. You\u2019ll need to keep your ear free of water, and avoid strenuous activity or anything that might create pressure on your ear (e.g. airplane travel). Complications are rare, but might include facial nerve paralysis, sensorineural hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, and a change in taste.\"\n      }\n }\n ]\n  }\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>middle ear&nbsp;<\/strong>is the part of the ear between the ear drum and the inner ear. When the eardrum vibrates, it stimulates movement of the ossicles, a trio of tiny bones called the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup). The stapes attaches to the oval window, which connects the middle and inner ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Evaluating the middle ear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tympanometry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tympanometry screening is a test that is used to evaluate problems in the middle ear by measuring how your eardrum reacts to air pressure. It can help confirm the presence of fluid in the middle ear and whether that is causing an ear infection, <a href=\"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/ent\/eardrum-perforation\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/ent\/eardrum-perforation\/\">eardrum perforation<\/a>, Eustachian tube blockage or some other problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Tympanometry Screening Works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To test for fluid in the middle ear, the doctor will insert a handheld probe into your ear. This device changes the air pressure inside the ear while producing a distinct tone. How your eardrum responds to the combination of pressure and sound will be measured and recorded on graphs to determine whether fluid has built up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Normally, the eardrum moves freely in response to this type of stimuli. When movement does not occur as it should, this signals the presence of fluid and can help guide your physician in recommending an appropriate treatment solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to <a href=\"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/ent\/ear-infection\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/ent\/ear-infection\/\">ear infections<\/a> and perforated eardrums, tympanometry screening can uncover a variety of other disorders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mastoid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The middle ear is contained within a bone of the skull called the temporal bone. It is connected to a part of the temporal bone right behind the ear called the <strong>mastoid<\/strong>. The mastoid is filled with many tiny air pockets. Because the mastoid is connected to the middle ear, infections in the middle ear can spread to the mastoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the infection spreads, the bone is destroyed, resulting in hearing loss. If antibiotics are unsuccessful in clearing up the infection, then mastoid surgery may be needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mastoiditis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/hearing-loss-treatment-1280x853.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/hearing-loss-treatment-1280x853.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/hearing-loss-treatment-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/hearing-loss-treatment-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/hearing-loss-treatment.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The medical term for infection of the mastoid cells is <strong>mastoiditis.<\/strong> Most of the time, this infection responds to antibiotics in the same way that middle ear infections do. Sometimes, however, the infection persists and destroys some of the bone in the mastoid. On rare occasions the infection can erode the bone separating the mastoid and middle ear from the brain, resulting in an infection in the brain. The condition affects children&nbsp;more often than adults&nbsp;since they are prone to middle ear infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What causes mastoiditis?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bacteria can migrate from an infected middle ear into the air cells of the mastoid bone, which then becomes infected Cholesteatoma, an accumulation of skin cells in the middle ear and mastoid, can also prevent the ear from draining properly leading to mastoiditis.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the symptoms of mastoiditis?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Symptoms of classic mastoiditis include swelling, redness, and tenderness of the area behind the ear as well as drainage of fluids from the ear, fever,&nbsp;irritability&nbsp;and lethargy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is mastoiditis diagnosed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mastoiditis can cause serious \u2013 even life-threatening \u2013 health complications if untreated, so proper diagnosis is a crucial first step toward recovery.&nbsp;Our&nbsp;doctor will examine your ears with an otoscope, looking for signs of infection. Diagnostic tests such as a CT scan or MRI may be administered to help rule out other conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is it treated?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many cases of mastoiditis are treated successfully with antibiotics. When antibiotics fail to treat the problem adequately, or it recurs frequently, surgery may be necessary.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mastoidectomy&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mastoid surgery, or&nbsp;mastoidectomy, involves drilling a hole in the mastoid bone and opening the infected air cells to remove infected tissue. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and most patients return home later the same day.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The&nbsp;middle ear&nbsp;is the part of the ear between the ear drum and the inner ear. When the eardrum vibrates, it stimulates movement of the ossicles, a trio of tiny bones called the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup). The stapes attaches to the oval window, which connects the middle and inner ears. Evaluating the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1226,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","footnotes":""},"service_tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/433"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/433\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"service_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ent-docs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/service_tags?post=433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}