Hearing Loss, Outer Ear Disorders, and Peripheral Auditory System

Vocabulary flashcards covering hearing loss descriptors, outer ear disorders, auditory pathways, acoustic properties, and tympanic membrane anatomy based on the lecture material.

Degree of Hearing Loss

A descriptor of hearing loss categorized by severity, such as mild or severe.

Configuration of Hearing Loss

A descriptor of hearing loss defined by its shape or pattern on a graph or audiogram.

Conductive Hearing Loss

A type of hearing loss caused by sound not conducting well through a disordered outer or middle ear, reducing or attenuating energy that reaches the cochlea.

Unilateral Hearing Loss

A hearing disorder involving one ear only.

Bilateral Hearing Loss

A hearing disorder involving both ears.

Binaural Hearing

Hearing with both ears, which serves as a very important contributor to spatial hearing.

Frequency

An acoustic energy property measured in Hertz ($Hz$) that corresponds to pitch or musical notes on a piano.

Intensity

An acoustic energy property measured in decibels ($dB$) that corresponds to power or loudness.

Concha Resonance Boost

The acoustic effect of the pinna's concha boosting sound energy at a frequency of $4500\,Hz$.

Air Conduction Pathway

The path sound travels through the auricle or pinna, external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, middle ear, and inner ear to the brain, typically tested using headphones.

Bone Conduction

A pathway that transmits sound by vibrating the mastoid bone, bypassing the outer and middle ears to directly stimulate the inner ear.

Microtia

A congenital outer ear disorder characterized by a small or underdeveloped pinna.

Otic Atresia

A congenital closure or lack of development of the external auditory canal.

Anotia

A congenital outer ear disorder characterized by the complete absence of both the pinna and external auditory meatus.

Ear Canal Stenosis

An abnormal narrowing of the external auditory canal resulting from congenital causes, trauma, or burns.

Collapsing EAC

A condition in which the flaccid cartilaginous outer portion of the external auditory canal collapses under pressure into a slit-like opening.

Maximum Conductive Hearing Loss

A flat $60\,dB$ conductive hearing loss across all frequencies that occurs when both the auricle and ear canal are missing or underdeveloped.

Otitis Externa

Infection or inflammation of the outer ear canal, commonly known as Swimmers' ear, which is prevalent in swimmers and tropical environments.

Pars Flaccida

The small, loose upper portion of the tympanic membrane.

Pars Tensa

The larger, stiff portion of the tympanic membrane.

Manubrium of the Malleus

The handle portion of the malleus bone attached to the tympanic membrane.

Umbo

The central point of attachment of the manubrium of the malleus on the tympanic membrane.

Cone of Light

A light reflection on the tympanic membrane examined during otoscopy that indicates membrane health, though it is not an anatomical structure of the membrane itself.

Annulus

The fibrous ring surrounding the perimeter of the tympanic membrane.