Hearing Technology and Adult Audiologic Rehabilitation

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering hearing aid components, verification, implantable hearing devices, assistive technologies, and adult audiologic rehabilitation frameworks.

Transducer

A device or electronic component that converts energy from one physical form to another, exemplified by a hearing aid's microphone (acoustic to electrical) and receiver (electrical to acoustic).

Microphone (Hearing Aid)

An input transducer that converts incoming acoustic pressure waves from the listening environment into an analog electrical signal.

Amplifier (Hearing Aid)

The internal circuitry responsible for increasing the amplitude of the electrical input signal, filtering frequency responses, and running digital signal processing algorithms.

Receiver (Hearing Aid)

An output transducer that takes the amplified and manipulated electrical signal and converts it back into acoustic energy delivered to the patient's ear.

Telecoil (T-coil)

An alternative electromagnetic input coil inside a hearing device that detects magnetic fields from compatible telephones, induction loops, or assistive listening devices.

Gain

The amount of amplification delivered by a hearing aid, defined as the mathematical difference in decibels between the receiver output intensity and the microphone input intensity ($\text{Output} - \text{Input}$).

Maximum Power Output (MPO)

Also designated as output sound pressure level ($\text{OSPL}$); the maximum possible sound pressure level that a hearing instrument can deliver, regardless of input volume.

Acoustic Feedback

A whistling or whining noise produced when acoustic sound escaping the ear canal from the receiver is re-detected and re-amplified by the microphone.

Linear Amplification

An amplification processing scheme maintaining a constant $1:1$ input-to-output gain ratio across all sound levels until reaching the saturation limit of the amplifier.

Compression Amplification

An automatic gain control ($\text{AGC}$) circuit that provides proportionally greater gain for quiet sounds and reduced gain for loud sounds to prevent discomfort and manage loudness recruitment.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Hearing Aid

An air-conduction hearing aid with electronic components housed in a curved casing placed behind the pinna, coupled via tubing to a custom ear mold; standard for pediatric fittings.

Receiver-in-the-Canal (RIC) Hearing Aid

A modified BTE configuration where the receiver is positioned directly inside the ear canal and linked to the behind-the-ear casing via a thin electrical wire.

In-the-Ear (ITE) Hearing Aid

A custom-molded hearing device style containing all electronic components entirely within a rigid plastic shell seated in the concha and ear canal.

Completely-in-the-Canal (CIC) Hearing Aid

A miniaturized custom hearing aid seated deeply within the ear canal without protruding beyond the aperture, taking advantage of natural pinna and concha acoustics.

Ear Impression

A physical cast of the ear canal and concha created using an otoblock and hardening silicone-like compound, required for fabricating custom hearing aids and earmolds.

CROS Fitting

Contralateral Routing of Signal; a fitting method for unilateral unaidable hearing loss with normal contralateral hearing, transmitting sounds from a microphone on the poor ear to a receiver on the good ear.

BiCROS Fitting

An amplification arrangement for an individual with one unaidable ear and an aidable hearing loss in the contralateral ear, routing signals from the bad side into a hearing aid worn on the better ear.

National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL)

A validated, research-based prescriptive fitting formula widely utilized in the United States to establish target gain and output levels primarily for adult patients.

Desired Sensation Level (DSL)

A validated prescriptive hearing aid fitting formula utilized in the United States primarily for pediatric patients to optimize speech audibility across development.

Test Box Measures

An electroacoustic evaluation of hearing aid performance conducted inside an isolated test chamber using a $2\,cc$ coupler to verify full-on gain, frequency response, and harmonic distortion against manufacturer specifications.

Real-Ear Probe-Microphone Measures

The gold-standard objective verification method utilizing an external reference microphone and a probe tube microphone placed near the tympanic membrane to measure actual in-situ acoustic output.

Real-Ear to Coupler Difference (RECD)

The decibel difference between the sound pressure level measured in a patient's individual ear canal and the sound pressure level measured in a standard $2\,cc$ coupler, commonly utilized in pediatric fittings.

Speech Intelligibility Index (SII)

A standardized calculation yielding a score from $0$ to $100$ that represents the proportion of acoustical speech information that is audible to a listener above their hearing thresholds.

Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA)

A bone conduction hearing system comprising an external sound processor attached to a surgically osseointegrated titanium abutment to deliver vibrational energy directly to the skull.

Softband Bone Conduction System

A non-surgical retention arrangement that holds a bone conduction sound processor firmly against an infant or child's mastoid bone using an elastic strap.

ADHEAR System

A non-surgical bone conduction device FDA-approved in $2018$ for conductive losses or single-sided deafness that couples a processor to a specialized medical adhesive adapter worn behind the pinna.

Cochlear Osia System

An active transcutaneous osseointegrated bone conduction system FDA-approved in $2019$ for ages $5\text{ years}$ and older that pairs an external sound processor magnetically to a sub-periosteal implant.

Cochlear Implant (CI)

A surgically implanted biomedical device that bypasses damaged cochlear hair cells to provide direct electrical stimulation to the auditory nerve ($\text{cranial nerve VIII}$).

Speech Coding Strategies (Cochlear Implant)

Processing algorithms in a cochlear implant sound processor that translate acoustic sounds into tailored patterns of electrical pulses encoding frequency, intensity, and timing.

CI Mapping

The audiologic programming process of setting threshold ($T$) and maximum comfort ($M$) electrical levels across the electrode array in a cochlear implant.

Induction Loop System

An assistive listening arrangement using a perimeter wire connected to an amplifier that generates an electromagnetic field received by a hearing device's internal telecoil.

Infrared Listening System

An assistive listening technology that converts audio into invisible infrared light pulses transmitted to optical line-of-sight receivers, precluding signal leakage between rooms.

FM System

An assistive listening technology that broadcasts a talker's voice from a portable wireless microphone via designated radio frequencies directly to personal receivers.

Soundfield Amplification System

A classroom audio distribution arrangement transmitting a teacher's microphone signal to strategically positioned room loudspeakers to maintain a speech signal approximately $10\,dB$ above ambient noise.

CORE Model

An audiologic rehabilitation assessment framework developed in $2001$ by Dr. Ronald L. Schow, standing for Communication status, Overall participation variables, Related personal factors, and Environmental factors.

CARE Model

An audiologic rehabilitation management framework developed by Dr. Ronald L. Schow comprising Counseling/psychosocial, Audibility/impairment management, Remediation of communication activities, and Environmental coordination/participation improvement.

Hearing Aid Verification

Objective electroacoustic and probe-tube measurements conducted by an audiologist to confirm that hearing instruments meet technical specifications and prescriptive target levels.

Hearing Aid Validation

Subjective and functional procedures (such as self-report inventories or aided speech-in-noise tests) performed to assess whether amplification satisfies the patient's real-world communicative goals.

HIO BASICS

An orientation checklist for new hearing aid users covering Hearing expectations, Instrument operation, Occlusion effect, Batteries, Acoustic feedback, System troubleshooting, Insertion/removal, Cleaning/maintenance, and Service.

Occlusion Effect

A hollow, booming sensation or echo of one's own voice created when an earmold or shell traps low-frequency bone-conducted vibrations within the ear canal.

CLEAR Communication Strategies

A patient-oriented communication training acronym highlighting Control the situation, Lipread, Expectations that are realistic, Assertiveness, and Repair strategies.

SPEECH Strategies

A communication partner guideline acronym comprising Spotlight your face, Pause slightly, Empathize and be patient, Ease their listening, Control the circumstances, and Have a plan.

Clear Speech

A behavioral speaking technique characterized by a slightly slower rate, slight pauses between phrases, minor volume increase, and clear articulation that improves intelligibility by approximately $20\%$ to $40\%$.

Client Oriented Scale of Improvement (COSI)

A self-report rehabilitative tool developed by National Acoustic Laboratories allowing patients to nominate specific communication goals and rate their subjective degree of change and final listening ability post-intervention.

LACE (Listening & Communication Enhancement)

An adaptive, home computer-based auditory training program developed in $2006$ by Dr. Robert Sweetow designed to improve speech comprehension in competing noise, auditory memory, and cognitive processing speed.

Tinnitus Masking

A traditional sound therapy technique providing a neutral, continuous broadband noise through ear-level or supplemental noise generators to partially or completely obscure the perception of tinnitus.

Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT)

A comprehensive clinical protocol developed by Pawel and Margaret Jastreboff combining directive counseling with low-level acoustic therapy over $1\text{ to }2\text{ years}$ to habituate neural reactions and awareness of tinnitus.