Audiology Exam 1

Audiology

The profession of specialists in hearing assessment and non-medical management of persons with hearing loss.

An audiologists does not deal with prescriptions or medications.

Audiometer

A device for measuring hearing. The operator of an audiometer can change the frequency and the intensity level of sounds in hearing testing.

Board Certification

In audiology the highest credential for clinical practice offered by the American Board of Audiology (ABA)

Clinical scholar

A professional who has expertise in providing patient services combined with research education and experience.

Cochlear implant

A complex electrical device that is used in the management of persons with severe or profound hearing loss consisting of external components for picking up sound and converting the sound to electrical signals and internal components for delivering the electrical signals to the auditory nerve

Code of ethics

A document developed by a professional organization for guiding the professional behavioral of its members. Audiologists and speech pathologists are expected to abide by their respective Codes of Ethics

Doctor of Audiology degree

The minimum academic degree required to practice as an audiologist in the United States

Educational audiology

Audiological services typically offered in a school setting for children aged 5-18 years

Hearing aid

An electrical device that amplifies sound to improve hearing and communication

Hearing science

The area of science that focuses on the ear and hearing. Hearing scientists often have specific interests such as psychoacoustics, the anatomy or physiology of a particular region of the auditory system, or neurophysiological measures of auditory function

Industrial audiology

The area of audiology that focuses on prevention and documentation of noise-related hearing loss in work setting

Licensure

Credential required by states in the US in the regulation of audiologists, speech pathologists, and other professionals.

Otolaryngology

An ear, nose and throat (ENT) medical doctor. An otolaryngologist is a surgeon.

Otology

Specialty within otolaryngology specializing in diagnosis and treatment of ear and related problems like vestibular or balance disorders.

Pediatric audiology

Audiological services focused on newborns, infants, and children

Prevalence

The proportion of a population or number of persons that has a specific condition or disorder like a hearing loss

Scope of practice

A document describing the clinical activities that are appropriate and "within the scope" of practice for a profession like audiology or speech pathology

Amplitude

The amount of vibration or movement of a mass from the position of rest to the farthest point from the position of rest. Also, a measure of the size or magnitude of an auditory evoked response wave usually made from either a peak to a preceding or following trough or from the peak of a wave to some index of baseline. Amplitude of an evoked response is expressed in μvolts (microvolts).

Condensation

Region of a sound wave characterized by increased density of molecules. Opposite of rarefaction. Acoustic stimulus produced by a positive electrical pulse activating a transducer like an earphone produces condensation stimulus polarity

Cycle

A complete 360 degree course of a single sine wave from beginning to end

Damping

Decrease in the amplitude of a vibrating body over time.

decaPascal

A unit of pressure used in acoustic immittance measurements, such as tympanometry

Decibel

A unit of sound intensity level. A dB is the logarithm of the sound pressure of a sound to a reference sound pressure (usually 0.0002 dynes/cm). Clinically for adult patients, hearing threshold levels of 0 to 20 dB are considered to be within the normal range. Units for describing decibels include dB hearing level (HL), sound pressure level (SPL), sensation level (SL) and, for auditory evoked responses, dB normal hearing level (dB nHL).

Duration

The length of time from the beginning to the end of a stimulus; Duration is described in milliseconds or seconds and includes the rise and fall times, and the plateau in between.

Dyne

A unit of force that is just sufficient to accelerate a mass of 1 gram over a distance of 1 cm2

Elasticity

The capacity of an object that has been deformed to return to its natural shape

Forced vibration

Vibration of an object that is maintained by the application of ongoing external energy

Frequency

A property of sound defined as the number of complete cycles or oscillations of a vibrating body in a specified unit of time (e.g., 1000 cycles/second). Frequency is usually indicated with the abbreviation Hz (for Hertz)

Inertia

The resistance of any object to change its shape or its state of motion

Instantaneous displacement

A point on a waveform at a specific time

Intensity

The magnitude of sound energy per unit area. The term is commonly used in describing sound levels used in hearing testing

Inverse square law

The principle of physics that defines the decrease in sound intensity as a function of the square of the distance from the source of the sound

Loudness

The psychological correlate to sound intensity. Increases in sound intensity are perceived as increased loudness, The relationship between intensity and loudness is not one-to-one but, rather, logarithmic.

Period

Duration in seconds of one complete cycle of a vibration or a pure tone. The period is the reciprocal of frequency. For example, the period of a 1000 Hz tone is 1/1000 second.

Phase

The zero voltage point at the beginning of the waveform of a stimulus or of a frequency component of a response waveform expressed in degrees or radians, such as 0 or 90 degrees. Phase of a response is related to latency.

Pitch

The psychological sensation related to the frequency of sound. High pitches correspond to high frequency sounds and low pitches to low frequency sounds

Psychoacoustics

Field focused on study of the relation between the physical properties of sound (e.g., intensity and frequency) and the psychological or perceptual aspects of hearing (e.g., loudness and pitch)

Pure tones

A simple vibration with one single frequency

Rarefaction

The natural frequency for vibration of an object where vibrations occur with the least external force

Resonance frequency

The natural frequency for vibration of an object where vibrations occur with the least external force

RETSPL

Sound level values that are determined from calibrating sounds with a sound level meter connected to a specific type of coupler

Sound level meter

A device for measuring and quantifying sound intensity level in decibels (dB) sound pressure level (SPL).

Sound pressure level

The amount or intensity of a sound, such as an acoustic stimulus for evoked responses, expressed in decibels (dB); an intensity level of 0 dB SPL is the smallest amount of displacement of air molecules caused by a sound that can be just be detected by the human ear at a given frequency; a physical scale for intensity level. The normal hearing SPL decibel (dB) reference is 20 micropascals, i.e., dB SPL = 20 log (Po/Pref), where Po is observed instantaneous pressure and Pref = 20 μpascals.

Temporal integration

A measure of processing of brief durations of sound. Hearing thresholds are progressively elevated for sounds as sound duration decreases below 200 ms

Tuning fork

A metal device with a stem and two tines that produces a specific frequency like 500 Hz with vibration after it is struck on the hand

Vibration

Back and forth movements of an object that give rise to sound energy

Wavelength

Distance between the same point on two successive cycles of a pure tone

Apex

The low frequency region of the cochlea at the opposite end from the base near the stapes

Auricle/Pinna

The most visible outer portion of the ear consisting of a cartilage framework. Parts of the pinna are the helix, the lobe, and the concha. The word pinna is derived from the Latin word for ear

Cochlea

The inner ear located within the temporal bone of the skull. The cochlea consists of important structures for hearing including the inner and outer hair cells, the basilar membrane, the stria vascularis, and many other structures

Concha

The bowl-shaped region of the outer ear that helps to collect sound before it passed into the external auditory canal.

Endolymph

A thick fluid in the auditory and vestibular portions of inner ear and specifically within the scala media

Eustachian tube

A passageway that permits communication between the middle ear space on each side and the posterior region of the mouth (the nasopharynx). It's lined with mucous membrane and normally closed toward the end near the mouth

Incus

Second ossicle within the middle ear space that is connected laterally to the malleus and medially to the stapes

Inner hair cells

Very small cells arranged in a single row in the cochlea with stereocilia ("hairs") on the top that communicate with auditory nerve fibers at the bottom. There are about 3500 inner hair cells in a human cochlea

Labyrinth

The complex fluid-filled passageways within the auditory and vestibular portions of the ear that are enclosed within the temporal bone including the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth.

Malleus

The first of the three tiny bones (ossicles) connecting the tympanic membrane to the inner ear. The umbo of the malleus rests against the inner surface of the tympanic membrane and can usually be see with otoscopic examination of the ear. The malleus connects the tympanic membrane to the incus

Organ of Corti

The sensory organ of hearing is located on the basilar membrane of the cochlea (inner ear). It contains inner and outer hair cells as well as supporting cells. Mechanical energy is transduced to bio-electrical energy at the organ of Corti.

Outer hair cells

Very small and highly metabolic cells arranged in three to four rows in the cochlea with more than 100 stereocilia ("hairs") on the top. Outer hair cells are capability of motility or changes in shape with activation by sound. There are about 12,000 inner hair cells in a human cochlea

Oval window

One of two openings into the inner ear (cochlea) from the middle ear space. Vibrations transmitted through the middle ear are sent via the stapes footplate through the oval window into the inner ear (see round window).

Perilymph

Thick fluid within the scala vestibuli and the scala tympani in the cochlea and also within the vestibular portion of the ear

Peripheral auditory system

The portion of the auditory system that includes the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, and the auditory nerve.

Round window

One of two openings in the bony wall of the inner ear connecting the inner ear to the middle ear. The round window, which is covered with a thin membrane, acts as a pressure release valve permitting movement of inner ear fluids with movement of the stapes footplate (see oval window).

Stapedius muscle

The smallest muscle in the human body, attached to the posterior portion of the neck of the stapes and innervated by a branch of the seventh (facial) cranial nerve. The stapedius muscle contracts in response to high intensity sounds (see acoustic stapedial reflex).

Stapes

A tiny, stirrup-shaped bone (ossicle) within the medial portion of the middle ear space connecting another ossicle (the incus) to the oval window of the cochlea.

Temporal bone

A very hard skull bone enclosing the external ear canal, the middle and inner ear and, within the internal auditory canal, the eighth (auditory) cranial nerve.

Traveling wave

Systematic movements of the basilar membrane progressing from the base near the stapes footplate toward the apex. Deformations of the basilar membrane activate the outer and inner hair cells in the cochlea

Tympanic membrane

Three layer membrane that vibrates in response to even very small levels of sound. The outer layer consists of skin, the middle layer connective tissue, and the inner layer is mucous membrane. Commonly called the eardrum

Cerumen

Ear wax, a sticky acidic substance normally secreted from ceruminous glands within the walls of the external auditory canal. Cerumen plays a role in protecting the ear

Chief complaint

Main problem that brings a person to a health care professional. For patient's seeking care from an audiologist, chief complaints often include hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus.

Foreign objects

Term used to describe anything out of the ordinary in the external ear canal such as raisins, pebbles, insects, and other assorted small objects

Informed consent

A document signed by a patient or research subject indicating agreement to participate in clinical testing or treatments, or a well-defined research study

Otoscope and otoscopy

A device for illuminating the external auditory canal and examining the ear consisting of a light and cone-shaped speculum that fits into the opening of the ear canal

Patient history

A patient's description of health status including complaints, symptoms, and prior tests and treatments

Psychosocial

In audiology a patient's emotional or social status or response to hearing loss or related disorders including responses such as frustration, irritation, sense of isolation, anger, sadness

Video otoscopy

Visualization of the external ear canal and tympanic membrane with a computer or video monitor during inspection of the ear

Ambient noise

Background acoustic noise in an environment such as room where hearing testing takes place

Artificial ear

A device for calibrating the sound produced by earphones used in air conduction hearing testing. It consists of a 6cm3 coupler to connect an earphone to a microphone

Artificial mastoid

A device for calibrating bone-conduction vibrators that is connected to a sound level meter that documents the intensity level in either decibels or units of force.

Attenuate

To reduce the intensity level of a sound. Ear plugs attenuate noise levels before they reach the inner ear.

Behavioral audiometry

Hearing testing that requires a behavioral response from a patient like raising a hand, pressing a button, or repeating a word. Behavioral audiometry is influence by a number of listener variables like motivation, attention, alertness, and understanding of the task

Bone conduction

Transmission of sound (mechanical vibrations) from the surface of the skull at the mastoid or forehead to the fluids of the cochlea. Sounds are then perceived in the usual way.

Bone vibrator

A small device (usually black plastic on the exterior with electronic components within, and about an inch square) that is used to present sounds (vibrations) to the skull in bone conduction auditory assessment. A Radioear B-71 oscillator (vibrator) is recommended for AER stimulation. Sometimes called a bone oscillator

Calibration

Electronic or psychoacoustic determination that an electrical device (such as an amplifier) or an acoustic transducer (an earphone) is functioning according to defined characteristics. The term usually also implies correction of the device if necessary.

Conditioned play audiometry

A technique for hearing testing in young children that trains the patient to perform a game-type activity like dropping blocks into a bucket or putting pegs into holes in a board every time a sound is heard

Coupler

A specially designed device for connecting an earphone with a microphone of a sound-level meter. Any device for connecting two components such as acoustic tubes of insert earphones with foam or rubber tips

Cross hearing

Stimulus sound presented to the test ear at a level exceeding the insulation provided by the head for air or bone conduction crosses over to and is detected in the non-test ear

Ear specific

A term used to describe test results that result from stimulation of only the right or the left ear without involvement of the non-test ear

Gestational age

The time in weeks after conception. A full-term birth is 40 weeks. Premature infants with a gestational age of as little as 26 to 27 weeks can now survive with intensive care

Insert earphones

A type of earphone consisting of a transducer built into a small box and an acoustic tube for delivery of the sound stimulus to the ear. The tube is coupled to the ear by means of a small foam or rubber probe tip.

Listening check

Daily verification of the output of audiometers and earphones conducted with a known normal-hearing person. Sometimes called biological calibration

Localization to sound

Determining the specific location of a source of a sound in space in horizontal and vertical directions

Masking

Noise presented to the non-test ear in a hearing test procedure. Common masking noises are either broadband or narrow band noise. Masking is used in an attempt to prevent a response from the non-test ear due to possible stimulus crossover from the test ear.

Supra-aural earphones

Earphones that rest on the pinna with a diaphragm aligned with the opening of the external auditory canal

Transducer

An electro-acoustic device for converting energy from one form to another. An earphone is a transducer that converts electrical energy to acoustic energy (sound).

Visual reinforcement

Use of light, picture, or mechanical play activity to maintain a child's attention during behavioral hearing testing and to reinforce responses to sound

Audiometer

A device for measuring hearing. The operator of an audiometer can change the frequency and the intensity level of sounds in hearing testing.

Automated audiometry

Hearing testing under computer control

Pure tone audiometry

Measurement of hearing thresholds using pure tone signals