STUDENT SHEET: Google Expeditions Ear Diseases

Tinnitus Ruptured eardrum Tinnitus is a condition that has a variety of (Perforated eardrum) causes; hearing loss, earwax, or head injury. It is when a person experiences sounds when A ruptured eardrum as the name suggests is there is not one present e.g. ringing. The a hole or tear in the eardrum. It is usually sound can vary for each person and can caused by an infection. It can lead to an include ringing, ticks, hissing or even a roaring infection in the middle ear or hearing loss. sound.

Motion sickness Ear infection

This is usually caused because your brain They are more common in children than receives mixed signals from your semi-circular adults and are usually caused by a bacteria. canals and eyes. If your eyes do not sense They can lead to build up of liquid behind the movement (e.g. reading in a car) this causes eardrum which can be very painful. confusion in the brain and nausea.

Vertigo Labyrinthitis Vertigo is a symptom of many ear problems. This is a specific type of infection that affects Suffers feel like their surroundings are moving the inner ear (cochlea and/or semi-circular even if they are not and this can lead to canal). People with this infection may feel nausea. There are many possible causes such sick, dizzy or even lose some hearing. as migraines, labyrinthitis or an inflammation of the vestibular nerve.

Clogged / Blocked ears - They won’t pop! Severe / Chronic Earworm Ear barotrauma

This is a very unusual condition where a This is usually caused by changes in pressure, person will hear some or part of a song for example in an aeroplane. This is caused repeated constantly. It can be described as by a blockage in the Eustachian tube which auditory hallucinations and is usually due to should normally open and close as pressure mental illness. changes.

Bibliography / Extra information:

• Tinnitus - factsheet: http://www.mirecc.va.gov/cih- visn2/Documents/Patient_Education_Handouts/Tinnitus_Fact_Sheet_Version_3.pdf or the Tinnitusa website http://tinnitussa.org/

• Ruptured eardrum: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ruptured-eardrum-symptoms-and- treatments • Blocked/clogged ears: http://www.healthline.com/health/ear-barotrauma#Overview1

• Motion sickness: http://www.motion-sickness-guru.com/causes-of-motion-sickness.html

• Ear infection: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ear-infections-children

• Labyrinthitis: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Labyrinthitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx