Degrees and Types of Hearing Loss, Pathway of Sound, Otitis Media, Abnormal Hearing Behaviors, Role of SLP in Hearing Screenings, Otoscopic Inspection, Landmarks of the Tympanic Membrane, Cerumen Functions

Degrees of Hearing Losses

Ranges of hearing loss severity

Hearing WNL

Normal hearing within -10 to 15 dB HL

Slight or very mild

Hearing loss within 16 to 25 dB HL

Mild

Hearing loss within 26 to 40 dB HL

Moderate

Hearing loss within 41 to 55 dB HL

Moderate to Severe

Hearing loss within 56 to 70 dB HL

Severe

Hearing loss within 71 to 90 dB HL

Profound

Hearing loss of 91 dB HL and above

WNL

Within normal limits, up to 25 dB HL for adults

When to state, "sloping in higher frequencies"

General rule is when you switch into different degrees of HL, like going from Mild → Moderate

Types of Hearing Losses

Conductive
Sensorineural
Mixed

Conductive Hearing Losses

Hearing loss in the outer and/or middle ear

Sensorineural Hearing Losses

Hearing loss in the inner ear and/or neural pathway

Mixed Hearing Losses

Hearing loss in both the outer and/or middle ear and the inner ear and/or neural pathway

Pathway of Sound

The route sound takes through the ear

Air Conduction (AC) Pathway

Sound travels through the outer, middle, inner ear, and neural pathway

Transducers

Supra-aural earphones and insert earphones used in air conduction pathway

Bone Conduction (BC) Pathway

Sound travels through the inner ear and neural pathway

Bone Vibrator

Transducer used in bone conduction pathway

Acoustic energy

Sound energy collected by the Pinna (auricle)

Pinna

External part of the ear that collects sound energy

EAM

External Auditory Meatus (ear canal)

TM

Tympanic Membrane (eardrum)

Ossicles

Small bones in the middle ear that vibrate in response to sound

Stapes

One of the ossicles that rocks in and out of the oval window

Vestibule

Part of the inner ear that receives hydraulic energy from the oval window

Fluid in the inner ear

Fluid that displaces as the vestibule receives hydraulic energy

Shearing action

Action that occurs to the hair cells as fluid in the inner ear is displaced

Hydraulic energy

Energy that is converted into electrical energy in the inner ear

Auditory nerve

Nerve that carries electrical signals from the cochlea to the brain

CTSLIMA

Acronym for the neural pathway of sound: Cochlear Nuclei, Trapezoid Body, Superior Olivary Complex, Lateral Lemniscus, Inferior Colliculus, Medial Geniculate Body, Auditory Cortex

Temporal lobe

Location of the auditory cortex in the brain

Formation of Otitis Media

Process of how otitis media (ear infection) develops

Eustachian tube

Tube that connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx

ET blockage

Blockage of the Eustachian tube, can be caused by colds or smoke

ET functions

Regulates/equalizes pressure between nasopharynx and middle ear, drains fluid

Fluid-filled ME

Middle ear filled with fluid due to vacuum created from ET blockage

Infected fluid

Fluid in the middle ear that may be infected or become infected

Otitis Media

Ear infection, requires medical management

Facts about Otitis Media

Important information about otitis media

Peak Period

Age range when otitis media is most common, below 8 years old

Myringotomy with ventilation tube

Surgical procedure to treat otitis media, involves placing tubes in the eardrums

PE Tubes

Pressure Equalizing Tubes, used in myringotomy

Antibiotics

Medication used to treat bacterial otitis media

Decongestants

Medication used to reduce swelling in otitis media

Viral otitis media

Otitis media caused by a viral infection, runs its course

Symptoms of Otitis Media

Signs and indications of otitis media

Serous Otitis Media

Stage of otitis media with thin, clear, watery fluid

Serous Effusion OME

Another term for serous otitis media

Purulent/Suppurative OM

Stage of otitis media with thicker, infected fluid

Glue Ear

Another term for purulent/suppurative otitis media

Acute Otitis Media

Stage of otitis media with pain, fever, and discomfort

Chronic Otitis Media

Stage of otitis media that persists over a long period of time

Treatment of Otitis Media

Methods and interventions for managing otitis media

Abnormal Hearing Behaviors

Behaviors that may indicate hearing loss

Hearing Screening Personnel

Qualified individuals who can conduct hearing screenings

Audiologists

Hearing screening practitioners with CCC-A and state licensure

Speech-language pathologists

Hearing screening practitioners with CCC-SLP and state licensure

Support personnel

Assistants supervised by certified audiologists

Role of SLP in Hearing Screenings

Responsibilities of speech-language pathologists in hearing screenings

Prevention

Hearing conservation programs and identifying at-risk neonates/infants

Screening

Conducting hearing tests and inspections

UNHS

Universal Newborn Hearing Screening

Intervention

Providing services to families/caregivers and troubleshooting hearing aids

ASHA BOE

ASHA Board of Ethics

Pure tone

Hearing test method for individuals with appropriate training

Middle Ear Pathology

Screening for middle ear disorders with appropriate training

OAE

Otoacoustic Emissions, a screening method for hearing loss

ASHA Scope of Practice

Guidelines for the professional responsibilities of SLPs

SLP Scope of Practice

Responsibilities of speech-language pathologists in communication, hearing, and feeding/swallowing disorders

Otoscopic Inspection

Visual examination of the ear canal and eardrum

Specula

Attachments for the otoscope to view the ear canal

Pars Tensa

Lower 3/4 of the tympanic membrane with all 3 layers

Pars Flaccida

Upper 1/4 of the tympanic membrane with 2 layers

Annular Ligament

Ligament that holds the tympanic membrane in place

Manubrium of the Malleus

Handle of the malleus bone attached to the tympanic membrane

Umbo

Central point of the tympanic membrane

Cone of Light

Reflection of light on the tympanic membrane

3 layers of TM

Epithelial, fibrous, and membranous layers of the tympanic membrane

Cerumen

Earwax produced in the outer 1/3 of the ear canal

Functions of Cerumen

Fight infection, keep ear canal moist, and keep foreign objects out