Human Ear and Audiology (week 4)

What are the three primary regions of the human ear?

Outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

The conductive system of the ear is comprised of which two regions?

The outer and middle ears.

What is the primary function of the conductive system in terms of energy transformation?

It gathers sound and converts it into mechanical energy.

The sensorineural system consists of the inner ear and the __.

Auditory nerve

What physical medium fills the inner ear?

Fluid

Identify the six anatomical structures of the outer ear listed in the source.

Helix, antihelix, tragus, antitragus, concha, and lobule.

What is the approximate length of the external auditory canal?

1 inch

What is the approximate diameter of the external auditory canal?

7 mm

Contrast the composition of the outer versus inner portions of the external auditory canal.

The outer part is cartilaginous, while the inner part is boney.

Which structure acts as a collector and director of sound to help determine source location?

The pinna (auricle).

The physical structure of the outer ear enhances sound most significantly at which frequency?

2000 Hz

What is the clinical term for ear wax?

Cerumen

What is the primary role of the middle ear in the hearing process?

It delivers and boosts mechanical sound energy into the inner ear.

Which structure connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx?

The Eustachian tube.

What is the primary physiological purpose of the Eustachian tube?

To equalize air pressure between the middle ear and the outside atmosphere.

List the three bones comprising the ossicular chain.

Malleus, incus, and stapes.

Malleus

The first bone of the ossicular chain, commonly known as the hammer.

Incus

The middle bone of the ossicular chain, commonly known as the anvil.

Stapes

The final bone of the ossicular chain, commonly known as the stirrup.

By what factor is sound pressure increased due to the size difference between the eardrum and the stapes footplate?

18-fold

How does the eardrum's shape contribute to the transmission of sound energy?

Its cone shape adds pressure to the sound energy transmitted to the ossicular chain.

The middle ear mechanism increases sound by approximately how many decibels before it reaches the inner ear?

25-30 dB

The inner ear houses the structures for hearing and which other vital system?

The vestibular system (balance).

What type of energy is generated when the sensorineural system sends signals to the brain?

Electrical impulses

Describe the physical shape of the cochlea.

It is coiled like a conch shell.

What is the specific sensory end organ of hearing located within the cochlea?

The Organ of Corti

Mechanical energy is converted into electrochemical energy through the bending of which structures?

Outer and inner hair cells.

In what year did the NIH produce the consensus statement recommending universal newborn hearing screening?

1993

What is the fundamental difference between behavioral tasks and electrophysiological procedures in hearing assessment?

Behavioral tasks require a response from the person, while electrophysiological procedures do not.

Which category of hearing assessment is the procedure of choice for infants aged 0-6 months?

Electrophysiologic procedures

Which electrophysiologic test is typically used as the initial "screener" for infants?

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE).

Which infant hearing test can provide frequency-specific information?

Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR).

What does tympanometry specifically measure?

Middle ear function.

Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA)

A behavioral assessment for children aged 7-30 months using toys and localization behavior.

Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA)

A hearing test for children aged 30 months to 5 years that turns listening into a game with consistent actions.

During a hearing screening, which four frequencies are typically tested?

500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz.

At what intensity level (in dB HL) is a standard hearing screening conducted?

25 dB HL

What constitutes a "Pass" result in a standard hearing screening?

Responses at all tested frequencies in both ears.

What constitutes a "Refer" result in a standard hearing screening?

No response at any frequency in either ear.

Conductive hearing loss results from damage in which specific areas?

The outer or middle ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to which two possible sites?

The inner ear or the auditory nerve.

Mixed hearing loss is defined as the simultaneous presence of __.

Conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

What is the difference between unilateral and bilateral hearing loss?

Unilateral affects one ear, while bilateral affects both ears.

What is the most common etiology of conductive hearing loss in children?

Otitis media (ear infection).

According to the source, what fraction of otitis media cases are asymptomatic?

1/3

How does conductive hearing loss typically affect speech perception?

It decreases loudness while clarity usually remains intact.

How does sensorineural hearing loss typically affect speech perception?

It causes both a loss of sensitivity and a distortion of speech.

Why is a hearing aid often insufficient for sensorineural hearing loss?

It makes sound louder but does not restore clarity.

Which specific category of speech sounds is most affected by high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss?

Sibilants (such as /s/, /th/, /sh/, and /f/).

What is a primary safety concern for individuals with unilateral hearing loss?

Difficulty with the localization of sound.

What percentage of children with unilateral hearing loss fail at least one grade in school?

35%

Chronic episodes of otitis media are often treated by inserting __ into the eardrum.

Tubes

Cochlear implants are designed for individuals with what severity of hearing loss?

Severe or profound.

What is the primary medical requirement regarding the auditory nerve for cochlear implant candidacy?

The auditory nerve must be functional.

In a cochlear implant, what component analyzes sound and converts it into a digital signal?

The speech processor.

Where is the electrode array of a cochlear implant physically placed?

Within the cochlea.

How long after cochlear implant surgery does programming or "mapping" typically begin?

4-6 weeks

List the four stages of the listening hierarchy mentioned in aural rehabilitation.

Detection, discrimination, identification, and compensation.

How does fluctuating hearing in the otitis media population affect language learning?

Language learning becomes inconsistent based on the level of hearing at the time.

What is the general trend for vocabulary development in children with sensorineural hearing loss?

Vocabulary develops slowly, with concrete words being easier to learn than abstract ones.

In the context of Deaf Culture, what does the capitalized "D" signify?

A cultural identity with its own language and norms, rather than just a hearing loss.

Identify one lifestyle choice mentioned as a method for preventing hearing loss.

Giving up nicotine (smoking).

Why is it important to check medication side effects regarding hearing?

Some drugs are ototoxic and can damage the ear.

When communicating with someone who is hard of hearing, why is it better to rephrase than repeat?

Rephrasing provides different context and phonetic cues that might be easier to interpret.

Which anatomical structure acts as the "stirrup" and rests in the oval window?

The stapes.

What is the role of the transmitter in a cochlear implant system?

It sends the digital sound signal to the internal receiver.

Children with conductive hearing loss often show difficulty with which classroom task?

Following directions or attending to stories read out loud.

What happens to the "traveling wave" of sound energy once it enters the cochlea?

It causes movement of the basilar membrane and the Organ of Corti.

Identify the part of the outer ear that is purely skin and lacks cartilage.

The lobule (earlobe).

What is the auditory consequence of having a high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss on speech recognition?

It results in very poor speech recognition scores.

How do hearing impaired children progress through listening stages compared to hearing children?

They move through the same stages but need more assistance and time.

Which component of the cochlear implant system picks up sound from the environment?

The external microphone (BTE hearing aid).

The internal receiver/stimulator converts the signal from the transmitter into what?

An electric impulse.

What specific frequency and intensity parameters are standard for pediatric screenings?

500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz at 25 dB HL.

Why is maintaining eye contact considered a strategy for communicating with the hard of hearing?

It aids in visual cues and ensures the listener's attention is focused.

What determines a person's functional ability in the context of hearing impairment?

It is not solely the severity of loudness loss but how they function in daily life.

Which structural feature of the middle ear provides a "substantial boost" to mechanical energy?

The ossicular chain (specifically through lever action and size differences).

What clinical procedure involves inspecting the ear canal for redness, cerumen, or perforations?

Otoscopy

Name the two "windows" located in the middle ear mentioned as delivery points for energy.

The oval and round windows.

What is the common term used for the tympanic membrane?

Eardrum