Studied by 31 people
Air-bone gap
significant difference between air conduction and bone conduction thresholds in the same ear at any particular frequency
Air conduction (AC)
method of testing with earphones, insert earphones or loudspeakers such that the signal is delivered through the entire hearing mechanism, including the periphery and central auditory nervous system
Audiogram
graph displaying hearing sensitivity, showing frequency in Hz across the x-axis and intensity in dB along the y-axis
Audiometer
piece of equipment used by audiologists to help estimate hearing threshold and to aid in differential diagnosis
Bone conduction (BC)
method of testing with a bone conduction oscillator such that the signal bypasses the outer and middle ears and delivers to the inner ear and central auditory nervous system
Conditioned play audiometry
audiometric technique utilized with small children, most often of preschool developmental age, where the child responds by game-playing upon hearing a stimulus
Conductive hearing loss
type of hearing impairment where the disorder lies in the outer and/or middle ear
Sensorineural hearing loss
type of hearing impairment where the disorder lies in the inner ear and/or the VIII nerve (vestibulocochlear)
Mixed hearing loss
type of hearing impairment where the disorder lies within the conductive and sensorineural mechanisms
Configuration of hearing loss
parameter used in audiogram interpretation to determine shape of the audiogram and severity as a function of test frequency
Hughson-Westlake procedure
common procedure for obtaining threshold; the audiologist decreases stimulus intensity by 10 dB with a (+) response and increase by 5 dB with a (-) response
Interaural attenuation
refers to level at which stimulus intended for the test ear crosses over and is perceived by the non-test ear - always going to be 40 dB less on the other side
Magnitude of hearing loss
parameter used in audiogram interpretation to help determine severity of hearing impairment, if any
Masking
procedure whereby the audiologist delivers a noise stimulus to the non-test ear to prevent it from participating in the testing session, so that accurate results may be obtained in the test ear
Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)
physiological measure correlating with outer hair cell function of the cochlea, utilized by the audiologist to help estimate hearing threshold and to assist in different diagnosis
Overmasking
during clinical masking, this term refers to an inaccurately high intensity level of noise presented to the non-test ear, such that the noise crosses over to the test ear and interferes with obtaining true thresholds
Undermasking
during clinical masking, this term refers to an inaccurately low intensity level of noise presented to the non-test ear, such that the tone still crosses over (to the non-test ear) and interferes with obtaining of true thresholds in the test ear
Maximum effective masking
highest intensity level of masking noise theoretically presented to non-test ear that will allow the clinician to obtain accurate thresholds in the test ear without over-masking
Minimum effective masking
lowest intensity level of masking noise theoretically presented to non-test ear that will allow the clinician to obtain accurate thresholds in the test ear without under-masking
Plateau
a clinical masking term referring to a range of noise at which effective masking occurs and true thresholds may be obtained
Symmetry of hearing loss
parameter used in audiogram interpretation to compare sensitivity in one ear to that of the other ear
Three-frequency pure tone average (PTA)
average of thresholds at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz in the same ear. This measure should correlate with the speech threshold and configuration warrants whether a two or a three-frequency PTA is calculated
Threshold
the softest intensity level at which a stimulus is heard, at least 50% of the time
Visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA)
technique utilized for ascertaining threshold with pediatric patients, whereby the child lateralizes to a lighted toy whenever the stimulus is heard
Artificial ear
a type of cochlear implant use to help provide a sense of sound; used for electroacoustic calibration process - a chamber with a 6-cc volume
Speech audiometry
a test that is used to determine the lowest level that speech can be heard
Phonetically balanced word list
the phonetic composition of all lists are equivalent and representative of everyday english speech
PB max
the maximum score on the PI-PB; word recognition score improves as intensity increases
PB rollover
a reduction of speech recognition scores that occur at intensities above the level where PB max is obtained
Spondee words
two syllable word that is pronounced with equal stress on both syllables
Speech recognition threshold
the minimum hearing level for speech at which an individual can just discern the presence of speech material 50% of the time
Word recognition score
percentage of words recognized when speech is presented at a particular level above the SRT
Transducer
piece of audiometric equipment that transforms one form of energy to another and is utilized to deliver stimuli to the patient
Supra aural earphones
goes straight into the ear, outer, middle, and inner ear, also shakes the bone a little ; use when AC threshold exceeds BC threshold by 40 dB or more
Insert earphones
goes straight into the ear canal and just shakes the bone a little ; use when AC thresholds exceeds BC threshold by 50 dB or more
Bone conduction vibrator
skips outer and middle ear, goes straight to inner ear, vibrates skull
Sound level meter
piece of laboratory equipment used to measure sound intensity in dB sound pressure level
6-cc coupler
used for calibrating insert earphones
2-cc coupler
intended for measurements on all types of hearing aids and is optimized for repetitive use in the laboratory and on the production line
Reference equivalent threshold sound pressure level
used when calibrating audiometric equipment to a hearing threshold level oof zero at various frequencies
Listening check
when you make sure your baby is hearing and noticing the specific speech sounds you say to them known as the ling six sounds (without the baby seeing you) right after you put on their hearing technology
Normal hearing loss
0 - 25 dB HL
Mild hearing loss
26 - 40 dB HL
Moderate hearing loss
41 - 55 dB HL
Moderately severe hearing loss
56 - 70 dB HL
Severe hearing loss
71 - 90 dB HL
Profound hearing loss
91+ dB HL
Otitis media
conductive hearing loss
middle ear infection
most commonly occurring childhood diseases especially in first few years of life
mild hearing loss
Otosclerosis
conductive hearing loss
growth of abnormal bone tissue
more common among women then men
often bilateral
mild hearing loss
Ossicular chain disarticulation
conductive hearing loss
disarticulation of the ossicular bones due to head trauma or other injury
usually unilateral hearing loss with sudden onset
normal to mild hearing loss
Presbycusis
sensorineural hearing loss
typically symmetrical
hearing configuration is typically sloping
will affect speech when hearing loss becomes mild - moderate
Meniere's disease
sensorineural hearing loss
affects the endolymph of the ear
hearing loss is often unilateral
Ototoxicity
sensorineural hearing loss
from medications that have ototoxic side effects
severe to profound hearing loss
Noise-induced hearing loss
sensorineural hearing loss
threshold shifts due to noise exposure that may be temporary or permanent
a "notch" is seen in the audiogram at 4-6 kHz
Auditory processing disorder
significant difficulty processing speech and other complex sound patterns
hearing threshold may be in normal range
Threshold test
used during pure-tone test; determine a suitable presentation level for supra-threshold test
Supra-threshold test
determine the the percentage of speech recognition a patient can obtain
What are the two types of speech audiometry tests?
monitored live voice and prerecorded test materials
Flat configuration
thresholds are all within 20 dB of each other
Rising configuration
thresholds at low frequencies are at least 20 dB poorer than thresholds at high frequencies
Sloping configuration
thresholds at high frequencies are at least 20 dB poorer than thresholds at low frequencies
Precipitous configuration
thresholds are steeply sloping (at least 20 dB) in the higher frequencies
Auditory brainstem response (ABRs)
meant to determine the functional status of the neural pathways used for hearing
Note 
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