CDIS 301: Survey of Hearing Loss and Deafness

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture notes on hearing loss and deafness.

Hearing Loss Prevalence

Hearing loss is the 3rd most common health problem in the U.S., affecting approximately 28-36 million Americans (up to 17% of the population).

Infant Hearing Loss

About 1 in 1000 infants have severe to profound hearing loss, and genetics account for at least 50% of early-onset cases.

Childhood Ear Infections

Three out of 4 children experience ear infections (otitis media) by age 3.

Hearing Loss Statistics

12 out of every 1,000 persons with hearing impairment are under 18 years of age, and more than half of people with hearing loss are younger than age 65.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

15 percent (26 million) of Americans between 20 and 69 have high-frequency hearing loss due to loud sounds or noise exposure.

Hearing Loss Demographics

Nine out of every 10 children who are born deaf are born to parents who can hear. Men are also more likely to have hearing loss than women.

Oto

Relating to the ear.

Audio

Relating to sound.

Rhino

Relating to the nose.

Laryngo

Relating to the throat.

ENT

Abbreviation for Ear, Nose, and Throat.

Unilateral Hearing Loss

Hearing loss in one ear only.

Bilateral Hearing Loss

Hearing loss in both ears.

Acute Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that has a sudden onset or short duration.

Chronic Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that persists over a long period.

Static Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that remains constant and does not change over time.

Progressive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that worsens over time.

Pure-tone audiometry

An audiometric test that measures hearing thresholds for pure tones at various frequencies.

Speech audiometry

An audiometric test that measures the ability to understand speech.

Immittance audiometry

An audiometric test that measures how energy flows through the outer and middle ear.

Tympanometry

An audiometric test that measures middle ear compliance.

Electrocochleography

An audiometric test that measures electrical responses in the cochlea.

Auditory evoked potential

An audiometric test that measures electrical activity in the brain in response to sound.

Pitch/Frequency

Measured in Hertz (Hz), human hearing ranges from 20-20,000 Hz.

Loudness

Measured in decibels (dB).

Normal Hearing

0-25 dB.

Mild Loss

26-40 dB.

Moderate Loss

41-55 dB.

Moderately Severe Loss

56-70 dB.

Severe Loss

71-90 dB.

Profound Loss

91 dB.

Outer Ear Function

Collects, resonates, and directs sound to the tympanic membrane (Auricle, ear canal, tympanic membrane).

Tympanic Membrane Function

Thin, oval membrane that vibrates at the rate and magnitude of the sound waves; separates the ear canal from the middle ear.

Middle Ear Function

Air-filled chamber that extends from tympanic membrane to oval window and contains the ossicular chain (Malleus, incus, and stapes).

Eustachian Tube Function

Leads from the middle ear to the nasopharynx, keeps the middle ear at atmospheric air pressure, and typically opens with oral and swallowing movements.

Cochlea Function

Contains the sensory mechanism of hearing; filled with fluid and contains outer and inner hair cells that are attached to nerve fibers.

Vestibular Mechanism Function

Contains three semicircular canals responsible for maintaining balance and interacts with the visual and proprioceptive systems.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer ear to the eardrum and ossicles of the middle ear (e.g., Cerumen impaction, Ruptured TM, Otitis media, Otosclerosis).

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss due to issues in the inner ear (Presbycusis, Noise-induced, Ototoxic substances).

Presbycusis

Progressive hearing loss as a result of aging.

Tinnitus

A noise sensation (ringing, roaring, swishing) heard in one or both ears.

Aural Rehabilitation

Minimizing and alleviating the communication difficulties associated with hearing loss.

Cochlear Implant

Appropriate for clients with severe or profound bilateral hearing loss that involves stimulating the auditory nerve directly by applying electrical currents.

ASL

American Sign Language

CODA

Child of Deaf Adult.

Malleus

One of the three small bones in the middle ear, also known as the hammer, that helps transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear.

Incus

One of the three small bones in the middle ear, connecting the malleus to the stapes, involved in sound transmission.

Stapes

The smallest bone in the human body, located in the middle ear, that plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the incus to the inner ear.