CSD 303 Unit 3

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