Communicatons Disorders Exam 4

outer ear

pinna, ear canal, outer surface of tympanic membrane

middle ear

inner surface of tympanic membrane, ossicular chain (malleus, incus, stapes), eustachian tube

inner ear

cochlea, semicircular canals

outer ear

·         Collects and resonates sound

·         Helps in localization

o   Determining where a sound is coming from

o   Relies on having two ears on the left and right side

middle ear

·         Amplification

o   Has to amplify to accommodate for the liquid-filled area of the inner ear

·         Equalize pressure between inner ear and outside environment

inner ear

plays a crucial role in the body's balance and hearing mechanisms

cerumen

§  Ear wax secreted by glands in the ear canal

§  Water and insect repellant

tympanic membrane

o   Increases vibration of sound and carries the vibration to the middle ear ossicles

ossicular chain

o   Connects to inner layer of tympanic membrane

o   Malleus, incus, stapes

eustachian tube

o   Drains fluid from ear

o   Can help with equalizing pressure

Middle ear to nasopharynx

cochlea

sensory mechanism for hearing

basilar membrane

thin, delicate structure within the cochlea of the inner ear that vibrates in response to sound waves, separating frequencies and aiding in the process of hearing.

hair cells

§  Transduce movement of the liquid surrounding them into an electro-chemical impulse

semicircular canals

Equilibrium

·         Awareness of where we are in space

§  Maintaining balance

§  Interacts with visual and proprioceptive systems

tonotopic organization

§  Different frequencies stimulate hair cells in different places along the basilar membrane

Vestibulocochlear nerve

Cranial nerve responsible for transmitting sound and balance information from the inner ear to the brain.

primary auditory cortex

§  Posterior superior region of temporal lobe in each hemisphere

§  Receives auditory signal from the ears and processes as

·         Environmental sounds

·         Human speech sounds

·         Human nonspeech sounds

hearing threshold

refers to the quietest sound that a person with normal hearing can detect at least 50% of the time

attenuation

refers to the decrease in the intensity or loudness of a sound as it travels through the air, the ear canal, middle ear, and inner ear

mixed hearing loss

This is a combination of both conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. It means there is a problem in both the outer or middle ear and the inner ear or auditory nerve

conductive hearing loss

This type of hearing loss occurs when there is an issue in the outer or middle ear that blocks or reduces the transmission of sound waves to the inner ear

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

This type of hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve.

otitis externa

inflammation or infection of the ear canal, often known as swimmer's ear.

impacted cerumen

a build-up of earwax that obstructs the ear canal.

otitis media

inflammation of the middle ear

Otosclerosis

a condition where abnormal bone growth in the middle ear can cause hearing loss.

Tinnitus

the perception of ringing, buzzing, or other noises in the ears without an external sound source.

Presbycusis

age-related hearing loss, often characterized by a gradual decline in hearing ability over time

Acoustic neuroma

a non-cancerous growth on the vestibulocochlear nerve, affecting hearing and balance.

otoscopy

a diagnostic procedure where a medical professional examines the ear canal and eardrum using an instrument called an otoscope, allowing for visual inspection and evaluation of ear health

tympanometry

a diagnostic test that measures the movement of the eardrum to assess middle ear function and detect issues like fluid accumulation or eardrum stiffness

otoacoustic emissions

sounds generated by the inner ear, specifically the cochlea, in response to external sounds. They are used to assess hearing function and can help identify hearing loss in infants and young children

pure tone audiometry

a hearing test that measures a person's hearing sensitivity to different frequencies (pitches) using headphones or bone conduction vibrators

air conduction

This method delivers sounds through headphones or earplugs to assess how well the outer and middle ear and the inner ear's cochlea function together to detect sound.

bone conduction

This method uses a bone vibrator placed behind the ear to send sound vibrations directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. It helps determine if hearing loss originates from the inner ear or the outer/middle ear

speech audiometry

a hearing test that evaluates an individual's ability to understand spoken words at various volumes and clarity levels

speech audiometry

a hearing test that evaluates an individual's ability to understand spoken words at various volumes and clarity levels

speech in noise testing

an assessment that measures a person's ability to understand speech in the presence of background noise.

auditory brainstem response

Measures brain wave activity in response to sound to assess the auditory nerve and brain's response to sounds.

vestibular testing

assesses the function of the inner ear and balance system to diagnose issues related to balance and spatial orientation

audiogram

a graph that displays an individual's hearing sensitivity across different frequencies (measured in Hertz - Hz) and intensity levels (measured in decibels - dB).

horizontal axis

Represents frequencies or pitches, ranging from low to high frequencies, usually from 125 Hz to 8,000 or 12,000 Hz

vertical axis

Represents sound intensity or loudness, measured in decibels (dB), ranging from soft to loud sounds. The higher up on the graph, the louder the sound needs to be for the person to hear it.

flat hearing loss

Indicates consistent hearing loss across all frequencies, resulting in a flat line on the audiogram. Hearing sensitivity is equally impaired across low, mid, and high frequencies.

sloping hearing loss

Demonstrates a gradual decline in hearing sensitivity from low to high frequencies. Typically, there's better hearing at lower pitches compared to higher pitches.

rising hearing loss

Shows better hearing at lower frequencies compared to higher frequencies, forming an upward slope on the audiogram

noise notch hearing loss

Indicates a distinct drop or notch in hearing sensitivity at a specific high frequency (usually around 4,000 Hz), resembling a notch on the graph.

cookie bite hearing loss

Exhibits a dip or drop in hearing sensitivity at mid-frequencies, resembling a "bite" taken out of the graph

high frequency hearing loss

Shows reduced hearing sensitivity primarily at higher frequencies, with better hearing at lower pitches. This loss configuration often affects understanding speech clarity, especially consonants.

prelingual deafness

occurs before a person learns to speak or understand language, typically before acquiring language skills during early childhood or infancy

postlingual deafness

occurs after a person has developed language and speech skills.

traditional hearing aids

devices that amplify sound and deliver it to the inner ear through the ear canal. They're designed for individuals with sensorineural hearing loss or mixed hearing loss, where the inner ear or auditory nerve is affected

bone conductive hearing aids

work by transmitting sound vibrations through bone directly to the inner ear, bypassing the outer and middle ear. These aids are beneficial for individuals with conductive hearing loss