hearing and balance

outer ear (pinna external auditory meatus)

What parts of the ear conduct sound waves to the tympanic membrane?

oval window

It transfers vibrations from the stapes into compression waves within the cochlea’s endolymph.

basilar membrane

structure within the cochlea vibrates due to sound waves

organ of corti

A sensory structure in the cochlea containing hair cells that detect vibrations and convert them into nerve impulses.

tectorial membrane

It bends the hair cells of the organ of Corti, triggering action potentials for sound perception.

cn viii cochlear branch 

nerve carries auditory impulses to the brain

pitch

The location of the stimulated hair cells on the basilar membrane.

loudness

The frequency of action potentials sent to the brain.

conduction deafness

Hearing loss caused by damage to the middle ear structures, preventing sound from reaching the inner ear.

conduction impairment

Blocking of sound waves through the external or middle ear, preventing them from reaching the inner ear.

nerve impairment 

Insensitivity to sound caused by damage to the auditory nerve or cochlea.

rinne and weber’s test

What are the two common tests for hearing impairment?

rinne test

test that compares bone conduction (BC) and air conduction (AC) to detect conductive hearing loss.

sound reappears near the ear

What is the normal Rinne Test result?

sound is louder through bone than air

What indicates conductive hearing loss in the Rinne Test

weber test

test that determines lateralization of sound to detect conductive or sensorineural hearing loss.

heard equally in both ears

normal hearing in the Weber Test

conductive hearing loss

In the Weber Test, sound is louder in the affected ear — what does this indicate?

sensorineural hearing loss

In the Weber Test, sound is louder in the unaffected ear — what does this indicate?

binaural localization

The ability to determine the direction of a sound using both ears.

high pitched sounds

type of sound relies more on loudness difference

low pitched sounds 

type of sound relies more on time difference

sound localization becomes harder

What happens when one ear is plugged during the test

cerebellar function

What is the Romberg Test used to assess

postural stability

What does the Romberg Test evaluate?

Significant swaying or loss of balance

What indicates a positive Romberg’s test?

Increased sway, stepping, or falling

What defines loss of balance in the Romberg Test?