What are common medical terms for ear health and ear problems?
- Acute otitis media – common ear infection of the middle ear space
- Adenoidectomy – surgery to remove the adenoids
- Analgesic – a pain relief medicine
- Antibiotic – a medicine that stops the growth of bacteria
- Audiometer – a device used to measure hearing for pure tones and speech
- Bacteria – organisms that cause most ear infections, in addition to viruses
- Chronic otitis media – persistent middle ear inflammation which can damage the eardrum or hearing bones
- Decibel – the unit of measure for sound intensity
- Earwax (cerumen) – waxy substance produced in the outer part of the ear canal to protect canal skin
- Effusion – a collection of fluid that may contain bacteria
- Myringotomy – an incision made into the eardrum
- Otitis media without effusion – swelling of the middle ear lining without fluid buildup
- Otitis media with effusion – fluid in the middle ear without ear infection symptoms
- Otitis media with perforation – a tear in the ear drum resulting from a middle ear infection
- Otoscope – a device that helps examine the ear
- Perforated eardrum – a hole or tear in the eardrum, often caused by an infection
- Recurrent otitis media – three ear infections in three months, four in six months, six in 12 months
- Swimmer’s ear – an infection in the outer ear caused by bacteria in trapped water in the ear canal
- Tinnitus – ringing in the ears (clicking, humming, buzzing) caused by damage to the hearing nerve commonly caused by age and loud noises
- Tympanostomy tubes – small tube inserted in the eardrum to help drain fluid, mucus and pus
