audiology week 1 (ch. 1 & 2)

Vocabulary terms covering course expectations, the scope and credentialing of the audiology profession, physical sound properties, psychoacoustics, and speech acoustics.

Audiologists - Adult Services

Healthcare professionals who specialize in diagnosing, managing, and treating hearing and balance disorders.

• diagnostics

• amplification

• vestibular disorders

• tinnitus management

Pediatric Services

• newborn hearing screening

• diagnostics and treatment of hearing loss in infants

• treatment and management of hearing loss in children

Work Settings

• general and teaching hospitals (childrens hospital as well)

• VA hosp

• military audiology

• uni and lab

• industry and manufacturers

Frequency

The number of times a repeating event or wave cycle occurs within a specific period, reported in Hertz ($Hz$).

Physical Properties Influencing Frequency

The physical characteristics of a vibrating object that determine pitch rate: shortening length increases frequency, increasing stiffness directly increases frequency, and heavier mass reduces frequency.

Sine Wave / Pure Tone

A smooth, repetitive, and periodic oscillation.

Intensity

A sound property directly related to the displacement (amplitude) of air molecules and to sound pressure, which varies with the speed and strength of vibration.

Pitch

The subjective perception of frequency, measured and reported in Hertz ($Hz$).

Loudness

The subjective perception of sound intensity, measured and reported in decibels ($dB$).

Audibility

The condition of a sound occurring at the faintest intensity level that can be detected, varying according to the properties of the sound.

Transient Sound

Brief acoustic signals with durations lasting milliseconds, such as (click sounds and tone bursts)

Noise

Undesirable acoustic energy that disturbs or interrupts an activity.

Fundamental Frequency

The rate at which the vocal folds vibrate, determined by age, gender, and vocal cord size; ranges from $85$ to $180\,Hz$ in adult males, $170$ to $250\,Hz$ in adult females, and above $300\,Hz$ in young children.

Speech Formants

Peaks of acoustic energy occurring above the fundamental frequency in vowel sounds that are related to vocal tract resonance.

Speech Spectrogram

A graphic depiction of speech frequency information plotted over $1$ to $2\text{ seconds}$ of time, illustrating speech energy extending up to $4000\,Hz$ and higher, with vowels situated lower in frequency than consonants.

Audiology Licensure Requirements

Mandatory state credentialing standards requiring completion of a Doctor of Audiology (AuD), a minimum number of supervised clinical hours, and a passing Praxis exam score.

Audiology Professional Certifications

Voluntary credentials issued by national organizations, including the American Board of Audiology (ABA), American Academy of Audiology (F-AAA), and the American Speech Language Hearing Association (CCC-A).

Adult Audiology Services

Independent clinical healthcare scope for adults comprising diagnostics, amplification, vestibular disorders, and tinnitus management.

Pediatric Audiology Services

Independent clinical healthcare scope for younger populations comprising newborn hearing screening, diagnostics and treatment of hearing loss in infants, treatment and management in children, and education.