Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures are episodes of movement, sensation, or behaviors that are similar to epileptic seizures but do not have a neurologic origin; rather, they are somatic manifestations of psychologic distress. Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures frequently are misdiagnosed and treated for epilepsy. Video-electroencephalography monitoring is preferred for diagnosis. From 5 to 10 percent of outpatient epilepsy patients and 20 to 40 percent of inpatient epilepsy patients have psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.
Unformatted text preview: 373. Explain the function of the auditory tube. The function of the auditory tube ( Eustachian tube ) is to maintain equal air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane, which is necessary for normal hearing. 374. Distinguish between the osseous and the membranous labyrinths.
It sounds like you are experiencing some eustachian tube dysfunction. Briefly, the eustachian tubes are small tubes that connect the inside of the ear behind the ear drum to the back of the throat. These tubes work by equalizing pressure between the throat and the space behind the ear drum. When the eustachian tubes become swollen or inflamed, the pressure does not equalize easily, leading to this sensation of fluid, pressure, or pain in the ears. There are many causes of eustachian tube dysfunction. It commonly occurs in the setting of a viral infection, such as a sore throat or a cold virus infection.