Hearing

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms from the CDIS 301 lecture on hearing loss, deafness, anatomy, testing, disorders, and rehabilitation.

Hearing Loss

Partial or complete inability to hear, ranging from mild to profound levels.

Incidence

The number of new cases of a condition that occur within a given time period.

Prevalence

The total number of cases of a condition present in a population at a specific time.

Otitis Media

Middle-ear infection/inflammation; common cause of conductive hearing loss in children.

High-Frequency Hearing Loss

Loss that primarily affects sounds above ~2,000 Hz, often noise-induced.

Oto-

Prefix meaning “ear.”

Audio-

Prefix meaning “sound.”

Rhino-

Prefix meaning “nose.”

Laryngo-

Prefix meaning “throat or larynx.”

ENT

Acronym for Ear, Nose, and Throat (otorhinolaryngology).

Unilateral

Affecting one ear only.

Bilateral

Affecting both ears.

Acute

Sudden onset and short duration.

Chronic

Long-lasting or recurring over time.

Static Hearing Loss

Stable, non-changing loss.

Progressive Hearing Loss

Loss that worsens over time.

Audiology

Study of hearing, balance, and related disorders.

Air Conduction

Pathway of sound through the outer and middle ear to the cochlea.

Bone Conduction

Transmission of sound via skull vibrations directly to the inner ear.

Pure-Tone Audiometry

Test measuring hearing thresholds for individual frequencies using pure tones.

Speech Audiometry

Assessment of speech recognition thresholds and word understanding.

Immittance Audiometry

Tests (e.g., tympanometry) measuring energy flow through outer/middle ear.

Tympanometry

Immittance test that gauges middle-ear pressure and compliance.

Electrocochleography

Recording of electrical responses generated in the cochlea to sound.

Auditory Evoked Potential

Measurement of electrical activity in the auditory pathway and brain.

Hertz (Hz)

Unit of frequency; cycles per second.

Decibel (dB)

Unit of sound intensity or loudness.

Pinna (Auricle)

Visible outer-ear structure that collects and funnels sound.

External Auditory Canal

Passageway directing sound from pinna to eardrum.

Tympanic Membrane

Eardrum; thin membrane that vibrates with sound waves.

Ossicular Chain

Three tiny middle-ear bones: malleus, incus, stapes.

Malleus

First ossicle, attached to eardrum; also called the hammer.

Incus

Middle ossicle; also called the anvil.

Stapes

Smallest ossicle; connects to the oval window; also called the stirrup.

Eustachian Tube

Canal connecting middle ear to nasopharynx; equalizes air pressure.

Cochlea

Spiral inner-ear organ housing the sensory mechanism for hearing.

Hair Cells

Sensory cells in cochlea that convert fluid motion into neural impulses.

Vestibular System

Inner-ear system (semicircular canals, etc.) responsible for balance.

Semicircular Canals

Three fluid-filled loops detecting rotational head movement.

Auditory Nerve (Cranial Nerve VIII)

Nerve transmitting auditory information from cochlea to brain.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Loss caused by problems in outer or middle ear that block sound.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Loss due to damage in inner ear or auditory nerve.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Combination of conductive and sensorineural components.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)

Difficulty processing auditory information in the brain despite normal hearing sensitivity.

Cerumen Impaction

Blockage of the ear canal by excessive earwax.

Otosclerosis

Abnormal bone growth around stapes causing conductive loss.

Presbycusis

Age-related progressive sensorineural hearing loss.

Tinnitus

Perception of ringing, roaring, or other sounds without external source.

Ménière’s Disease

Inner-ear disorder causing vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating SNHL.

Audiogram

Graph displaying an individual’s hearing thresholds across frequencies.

Degrees of Hearing Loss

Categories: normal (0–25 dB), mild (26–40), moderate (41–55), moderately severe (56–70), severe (71–90), profound (>91).

Assistive Listening Device (ALD)

Technology that improves audibility in specific situations (e.g., FM system).

Hearing Aid

Amplification device worn to improve hearing for HL patients.

Behind-the-Ear (BTE) Aid

Hearing aid style worn behind pinna with earmold tubing.

Cochlear Implant

Electronic device that bypasses damaged cochlea to stimulate auditory nerve directly.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs)

Echoes generated by outer hair cells, used to test cochlear function.

Auditory Training

Therapy to improve speech recognition using auditory cues.

Speechreading (Lip Reading)

Use of visual cues from speaker’s face to understand speech.

American Sign Language (ASL)

Natural visual-gestural language of the Deaf community in the U.S.

CODA

Child of Deaf Adults; hearing person raised by Deaf parents.

Total Communication

Educational philosophy employing all modalities (speech, sign, etc.) to teach deaf children.

Amplification

Use of devices (e.g., hearing aids) to increase sound levels for the listener.

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

Electrophysiological test recording neural responses from brainstem to sound.

Otoscopic Exam

Visual inspection of the ear canal and eardrum with an otoscope.

Ototoxic Substances

Medications or chemicals that damage the inner ear (e.g., some antibiotics).

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Permanent or temporary threshold shift due to excessive sound exposure.

Pure-Word Deafness

Central disorder where spoken words are not understood despite normal pure-tone hearing.