Auditory Anatomy, Sound Waves, and Hearing Assistive Technology

A comprehensive vocabulary review set covering sound wave characteristics, ear anatomy, audiogram axes, forms of hearing loss, and assistive hearing technology systems from the lecture transcript.

Frequency

The characteristic of a sound wave that determines pitch.

Amplitude

The characteristic of a sound wave that determines loudness.

High-Frequency Wave

A sound wave in which the waves are close together.

Low-Frequency Wave

A sound wave in which the waves are far apart.

Loud Sound Wave

A sound wave characterized by tall/high amplitude waves.

Soft Sound Wave

A sound wave characterized by short/low amplitude waves.

Pinna

The outer part of the ear that collects sound.

Ear Canal

The pathway that carries sound to the eardrum.

Eardrum

The membrane in the ear that vibrates from sound.

Malleus

One of the three middle-ear bones that transfers vibrations from the eardrum.

Incus

One of the three middle-ear bones that transfers vibrations to the stapes.

Stapes

One of the three middle-ear bones that sends vibrations into the inner ear.

Cochlea

An inner ear structure that converts vibrations into electrical signals.

Auditory Nerve

The nerve that sends electrical signals from the ear to the brain.

Semicircular Canals

Structures in the inner ear that help with balance.

Pathway of Sound

The sequential route of sound transmission: Pinna -> Canal -> Eardrum -> Malleus -> Incus -> Stapes -> Cochlea -> Auditory nerve -> Brain.

Audiogram X-Axis

The horizontal axis of an audiogram, which shows Frequency ($\text{Hz}$).

Audiogram Y-Axis

The vertical axis of an audiogram, which shows Hearing level ($\text{dB}$).

Conductive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss located in the outer or middle ear, identified on an audiogram by an air-bone gap.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, identified on an audiogram when air and bone conduction are both reduced similarly.

HATS

An acronym standing for Hearing Assistive Technology Systems.

FM System

An assistive technology system that sends speech directly to the listener.

Induction Loop

An assistive system that sends sound directly to a hearing aid.

Speech Recognition

Technology that converts speech to text.

Closed Captions

Text displays that show spoken words as text.

Hearing Aids

Devices that amplify sound; commonly used for both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Cochlear Implant

A device that uses electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve, operating through Microphone -> Processor -> Transmitter -> Electrodes -> Auditory nerve -> Brain.

Sign Language

A visual mode of communication that can be used whenever a person chooses it.