Facial nerve palsy in acute otitis media – case study

The hearing and balance organ maintains human spatial orientation as well as the ability to localize and discriminate individual sounds. Without properly functioning hearing organ, it would be impossible to develop speech, which is a mean of communication and social interaction. Therefore, it is important to observe the condition of particular senses, including hearing, and in case of disturbing symptoms or accidents causing damage, contact a specialist. This will enable early diagnosis and intervention. Sound is received by human organism through the conductive and receiving parts of the hearing organ. It is important to determine which part of hearing organ is impaired, since the procedure for receiving and conductive hearing loss is different. Precise diagnosis may determine the location of hearing damage. The basic element of diagnostics is case history. Further, a complex laryngological examination is conducted. The next step is the examination of the patient with appropriate subjective tests (Weber tests, distraction test, whispered voice test) and objective tests (OAE, tympanometry, brainstem auditory evoked potentials). These tests indicate the location and extent of hearing damage and also suggest the appropriate treatment for the individual patient. Acute otitis media is a condition that mainly affects children, but it also occurs in adults – more often men. It is usually caused by viral and bacterial infections of the upper respiratory tract. Characteristic is the sudden onset of discomfort, exudation in the tympanic cavity, along with ear pain and inflammation. Acute otitis media may lead to complications such as facial nerve palsy, tympanosclerosis, labyrinthitis, mastoiditis, and brain abscess.