final communication disorders

Hearing Disorders

Develop gradually in adults.

Frequency

Refers to how fast the particles (mass) vibrate; measured by the number of Hz per unit of time.

Pure Tone

Sound at only one frequency.

Complex Sound

More than one frequency.

Vibration

Back and forth motion of a wave.

Amplitude/Intensity

Measured in decibels, the maximum point that the soundwave reaches (height).

Deaf

Minimal hearing or total loss of hearing.

Congenital Deafness

Born deaf.

Prelingual Deafness

Deaf before learning to speak.

Postlingual Deafness

Deaf after learning to speak.

Conductive Hearing Disorder

Issue with sound transmission through the outer or middle ear.

Sensorineural Loss

Damage to nerves in the inner ear.

Mixed Hearing Loss

Combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Degree of Hearing Loss

Describes severity of the disorder.

Peripheral Hearing Loss

Located in the outer ear.

Central Hearing Loss

Located centrally.

Atresia

Absence of a normal opening at birth, typically in the ear.

Otitis Externa

Infection of the outer ear, often caused by excess moisture.

Perforated Eardrum

Hole or rupture in the tympanic membrane.

Otitis Media

Inflammation of the middle ear.

Acute Otitis Media

Otitis media that lasts a few weeks.

Subacute Otitis Media

Otitis media that lasts up to 3 months.

Chronic Otitis Media

Otitis media that lasts longer than 3 months.

Otitis Media with Effusion

Includes mucous-like fluid buildup in the middle ear.

Otosclerosis

Abnormal growth of spongy bone in the middle ear.

Stapedectomy

Surgical replacement of a bone with a prosthetic in the middle ear.

Meningitis

Inflammation of tissue surrounding the nervous system; may block blood flow and damage the cochlea.

Ototoxic Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by drugs.

Meniere Disease

Caused by increased fluid pressure; symptoms include tinnitus, dizziness, vertigo, and unilateral hearing loss.

Presbycusis

Gradual hearing deterioration that happens with age.

Acoustic Neuroma

Noncancerous brain tumor attached to the auditory nerve, typically on one side and more often in women; treatment often leads to total deafness in the affected ear.

High Frequency configuration of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss above 2000 Hz.

Flat Hearing Loss

Hearing loss across all frequencies.

Unilateral Hearing Loss

Hearing loss on one side.

Bilateral Hearing Loss

Hearing loss on both sides.

Symmetric Hearing Loss

Same hearing loss in both ears.

Asymmetric Hearing Loss

Different hearing loss in each ear.

Progressive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that becomes gradually worse.

Fluctuating Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that may improve or worsen depending on the day.

Tinnitus

Continuous ringing in the ear(s); may be objective (someone else can hear it with special equipment).

Causes of Tinnitus

Medications, allergies, loud noise, headache, high blood pressure, fatigue, or emotional tension

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)

Condition where a person with normal hearing and intelligence has impaired processing of auditory information; neurological disorders account for most cases.

Symptoms of APD

Asking for repetition, mishearing words, needing time to process information, difficulty following oral instructions.

Pure-tone audiometry

Quantitative measurement that measures hearing loss and defines type

Air Conduction Test

Assesses hearing between 250 Hz - 8000 Hz.

Bone Conduction

Sound vibrated through bone

Speech Audiometry

Tests ability to hear & understand speech in louder (quieter) environments.

Acoustic Immittance Testing

Tests mobility of eardrum.

Tympanometry

Response to sound plotted on a tympanogram; tests mobility of the eardrum.

Acoustic Reflex

Protective response of middle ear muscles.

Otoscopy

Visual inspection of ear canal to examine bruising, abrasion, foreign objects and to inspect eardrum.

Pure-Tone Audiometry

Test of hearing sensitivity.

Audiogram

The graph that test results are plotted

Speech Reception Threshold (SRT)

Minimum volume where speech is understood.

Speech Detection Threshold (SDT)

Need to hear sound 50% of the time.

Speech in Noise (SIN)

Difficulty hearing when there is background noise.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)

Sound generated from vibration of hair cells in cochlea; patients do not need to respond.

Electroencephalograph

Measures brain wave activity associated with reception of sound; may diagnose deafness.

Aural Rehabilitation

Techniques used to help people communicate.

Aural Habilitation

Work on building language, listening, & communication skills in people born with hearing loss.