Audiology Comprehensive Review Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards based on the provided lecture transcript covering audiology anatomy, pathologies, hearing science, diagnostics, and professional issues.

External Auditory Meatus (EAM)

The ear canal, measuring an average of $2.5\,cm$ long, consisting of an outer 1/3 cartilage and inner 2/3 skin covered bone.

Umbo

The center point of the Tympanic Membrane where the malleus attaches; it is pulled inward.

Pars Flaccida

The superior portion of the Tympanic Membrane.

Pars Tensa

The inferior and larger portion of the Tympanic Membrane which is stiffer for conducting sound.

Stapedius Muscle

A middle ear muscle innervated by the VIIth CN (Facial) that connects to the stapes for protective functions.

Tensor Tympani Muscle

A middle ear muscle innervated by the Vth CN (Trigeminal) that connects to the malleus and pulls the TM inward.

Annular Ligament

The structure that attaches the stapes footplate to the oval window; its hardening causes otosclerosis.

Scala Media (Cochlear Duct)

The middle duct of the cochlea containing Endolymph, which is rich in Potassium ($K^+$).

Scala Vestibuli

The superior duct of the cochlea containing Perilymph, which is rich in Sodium ($Na^+$), separated from the Scala Media by Reissner’s Membrane.

Scala Tympani

The inferior duct of the cochlea containing Perilymph ($Na^+$), separated from the Scala Media by the Basilar Membrane and connecting to the middle ear via the Round Window.

Organ of Corti

The sensory organ of hearing housed on the Basilar Membrane containing roughly 3,500 IHCs and 12,000 OHCs.

Stria Vascularis

The blood supply to the cochlea responsible for regulating metabolism.

Modiolus

The center of the cochlea that houses the blood vessels and the VIIIth CN.

Eustachian Tube

A tube that equalizes pressure in the middle ear space; it is horizontal in babies and becomes more vertical with age.

CSLIMA

The mnemonic for the central auditory pathway order: Cochlear Nuclei, Superior Olivary Complex, Lateral Lemniscus, Inferior Colliculus, Medial Geniculate Body, and Auditory Cortex.

Superior Olivary Complex (SOC)

The first level in the central auditory pathway to receive information from both ears due to crossing fibers.

Heschl’s Gyrus

The location of the Auditory Cortex.

Ampulla

An enlargement at the end of each semi-circular canal that holds the cupula.

Cupula

A structure within the ampulla that keeps crystals in place and out of the semi-circular canals.

Saccule

An otolith organ responsive to vertical linear acceleration (e.g., an elevator).

Utricle

An otolith organ responsive to horizontal linear acceleration and postural movements.

Autosomal Dominant

An inheritance pattern where offspring have a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder and one mutated allele is sufficient for expression.

Autosomal Recessive

An inheritance pattern where both parents are carriers, resulting in 25% of offspring being affected.

Apert Syndrome

A condition characterized by craniosynostosis, mid-facial hypoplasia, cleft palate, and conductive hearing loss due to anotia or microtia.

Usher Syndrome

A syndrome involving SNHL and retinitis pigmentosa, which leads to night blindness and loss of peripheral vision.

Waardenburg Syndrome

A condition presenting with a white forelock, heterochromia, and congenital SNHL.

Pendred Syndrome

A genetic disorder causing deafness, enlarged thyroid (goiter), and progressive hearing loss often associated with an enlarged vestibular aqueduct.

Treacher Collins

A condition involving atresia, microtia, and malformation of the ossicles, resulting in conductive hearing loss in 50% of cases.

Microtia

A congenital deformity where the pinna is small and abnormally shaped.

Anotia

The complete absence of the pinna.

Atresia

The absence or closure of the external ear canal, commonly associated with microtia and conductive hearing loss.

Cholesteatoma

A benign growth of skin (keratin mass) in the middle ear that can erode ossicles and cause unilateral hearing loss and otorrhea.

Glomus Tumor

A tumor on the jugular bulb often characterized by a bluish/purple mass behind the TM and pulsatile tinnitus.

Otosclerosis

A spongifying disease starting near the oval window resulting in stapedial fixation, often indicated by Carhart’s Notch at $2000\,Hz$.

Carhart’s Notch

A specific drop in bone conduction thresholds at $2000\,Hz$, characteristic of otosclerosis.

Schwiebe Aplasia

A malformation involving the membranous portion of the saccule and cochlea, associated with Waardenburg’s and Usher’s syndromes.

Michel Aplasia

The most severe congenital malformation, featuring a complete absence of the inner ear and auditory nerve.

Mondini Aplasia

A condition featuring a flattened cochlea with only a single basal turn.

Aminoglycosides

A class of antibiotics (e.g., Gentamicin, Amikacin) that can be vestibulotoxic or cochleotoxic.

Cisplatin

A platinum-based chemotherapy agent that is significantly ototoxic, damaging the stria vascularis and outer hair cells irreversibly.

Inverse Square Law

A physical principle stating that doubling the distance from a sound source results in a $6\,dB$ drop in sound intensity.

Doppler Effect

The phenomenon where the pitch of a sound drops as the source passes by the listener (e.g., an ambulance).

Characteristic Frequency (CF)

The frequency at which a specific nerve fiber or point on the Basilar Membrane is most sensitive (finely tuned).

Rarefaction

The portion of a sound wave characterized by a decrease in density and air pressure.

Fundamental Frequency ($F_0$)

The number of times the vocal folds vibrate per second, perceived as vocal pitch.

Articulation Index (Count the Dots)

A tool used to predict speech intelligibility, where information is most concentrated in the $1500$ to $3000\,Hz$ range.

Ordinal Scale

A scale consisting of named and ordered categories (e.g., $A > B > C$) without information on the distance between them.

Critical Band

The smallest band of frequencies around a tone that activates the same part of the basilar membrane, typically measured as $1/3$ octave.

Standard Threshold Shift (STS)

Defined by OSHA as a change in hearing threshold relative to baseline of an average of $10\,dB$ or more at $2$, $3$, and $4\,kHz$.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)

The OSHA limit for noise exposure, set at $90\,dBA$ TWA, where hearing protection and controls are required.

APGAR Score

A clinical measure of a newborn's health (Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance, Respiratory) measured at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.

EHDI 1-3-6 Rule

The goal to screen infants for hearing loss by 1 month, identify loss by 3 months, and enroll in intervention by 6 months.

Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)

A behavioral testing method for children ages 6 months to 2 years that reinforces head-turn responses with a visual reward.

Fletcher Average

The average of the two best thresholds at $500$, $1000$, and $2000\,Hz$, used to predict SRT in cases of sharply sloping loss.

Occlusion Effect

The sensation of increased loudness of low-frequency sounds via bone conduction when the outer ear is blocked.

Loudness Recruitment

An abnormal growth of loudness perception, often associated with many cochlear pathologies and a reduced dynamic range.

Rollover Index

A calculation ($\frac{PB_{Max} - PB_{Min}}{PB_{Max}}$) where a value $> 0.35$ is consistent with retro-cochlear pathology.

Stenger Test

A test for unilateral functional hearing loss based on the principle that if two tones of the same frequency are presented, only the louder one is perceived.

Rinne Test

A tuning fork test comparing air conduction to bone conduction; if BC is louder, it indicates a Conductive Hearing Loss.

Weber Test

A tuning fork test for lateralization; sound lateralizes to the poorer ear in CHL and to the better ear in SNHL.

Reflex Decay

A test where a decay of $50\%$ or more over 10 seconds is positive for retro-cochlear pathology.

DPOAE (Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions)

Emissions created by the intermodulation of two primary tones ($F_1$ and $F_2$), of which the cubic difference tone is the largest.

SISI (Short Increment Sensitivity Index)

A test where scores $> 70\%$ indicate cochlear hearing loss and $< 30\%$ are consistent with retrocochlear pathology.

Caloric Testing (COWS)

A test of the horizontal SCC and superior vestibular nerve using the mnemonic: Cold Opposite, Warm Same.

Alexander’s Law

The principle stating that nystagmus increases in intensity when gazing in the direction of the fast phase.

Tullio Phenomenon

Sound-induced vertigo or dizziness, often a symptom of Superior Canal Dehiscence (SCD).

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

A vestibular disorder causing brief vertigo (30-60 seconds) due to otoconia moving into the SCCs, most often the inferior/posterior canal.

Meniere’s Disease (Endolymphatic Hydrops)

A disorder of the inner ear characterized by fluctuating SNHL, episodic vertigo, aural fullness, and roaring tinnitus due to excessive endolymph.

VEMP (Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential)

A test of the vestibulo-colic reflex that evaluates the function of the inferior vestibular nerve and the saccule.

Auditory Neuropathy (AN)

A disorder where OAEs are normal but ABR is absent or abnormal, indicating a breakdown between the cochlea and the brainstem.

Dichotic Testing

A test of the central auditory system involving the presentation of different stimuli to each ear simultaneously.

Acrylic Earmold Material

A hard earmold material that is durable, easy to modify, and considered the default for many adults.

Silicone Earmold Material

A soft, durable earmold material that is low-allergenic and the standard choice for children.

Damper

A small piece of material placed in the hearing aid sound bore to smooth the frequency response by providing acoustic resistance.

CROS (Contralateral Routing of Signals)

A hearing aid configuration for Single-Sided Deafness where sound is transmitted from the unaidable ear to a normal hearing ear.

RECD (Real-Ear-to-Coupler Difference)

The difference between sound pressure levels measured in a coupler versus the human ear, which is crucial for pediatric fittings.

Telemetry

The transmission of data to and from a Cochlear Implant via electromagnetic induction to check internal status.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C

The section of IDEA that mandates Early Intervention services and an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for children aged 0 to 3 years.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Under IDEA Part B, a document describing how the school-based needs of a child with a disability (ages 3-21) will be met.

CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)

The five-digit identifier codes used to summarize medical procedures for billing and common language among providers.