Audiology

Question 1

What is the three-step process of hearing?

Answer 1

1. A sound wave (physical stimulus) travels to the cochlea (hearing organ),
2. The cochlea transduces the physical stimuli into nerve impulses and sends this information to your brainstem
3. Your brainstem sends this information to your cortex for processing (i.e, perception of stimuli)

Question 2

What is pitch?

Answer 2

A perceived fundamental frequency of sound

Question 3

What is the Organ of Corti

Answer 3

aka. Spinal Organ
a structure within the cochlea that rests on the basilar membrane

Question 4

What is the basilar membrane responsible for?

Answer 4

the passive resonant properties of the cochlea

Question 5

How does the basilar membrane help us hear?

Answer 5

Stiffness and width vary from the base (i.e, stimulus entry point at the round window) to the apex (i.e. the furthest point from the stimulus)

Different parts of the membrane react to different pitches - cochlear tuning

Question 6

What is the tonotopic organization?

Answer 6

“tuning” of the auditory system
(i.e., organization according to pitch)

Question 7

How does neural plasticity help us hear?

Answer 7

Alterations in the physiological and anatomical properties of the brain help when there are sensory problems in the cochlea

normal development
reduced sensory input (deprivation)
sensory experience
new learning or re-learning

Question 8

What is the primary scope of clinical practice for audiologists?

Answer 8

Hearing loss

Question 9

What are the three basic types of hearing loss?

Answer 9

1. Conductive - problem with sound conduction (outer and/or inner ear)
2. Sensorineural - problem with the inner ear and/or nerve pathways
3. Mixed - presence of both conductive and sensorineural problems

Question 10

What is auditory processing disorder?

Answer 10

A problem in the auditory cortex
not classified as a type of hearing loss

Question 11

What are the causes of conductive loss in the outer ear?

Answer 11

Atresia (absence of ear canal )
Cerumen (earwax) accumulation
Tympanum (eardrum) perforation
presence of foreign bodies (e.g, insects)

Question 12

What are the possible causes of conductive hearing loss in the middle ear?

Answer 12

infections, growths, (e.g., tumours)
Absence of ossicles

Question 13

Where are/what causes sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 13

Located in the inner ear associate nerve pathways to the brain and are the results of trauma (noise induces – e.g., loud music, firearms, industrial noise exposure),
presbycusis (age-related hearing loss),
genetic factors (not necessarily apparent at birth),
as well as disease (e.g., measles, mumps, meningitis).

Question 14

What is the first step in measuring hearing loss? What is then followed?

Answer 14

Collect information to build a case history
then followed by otoscopy, immittance testing and audiometry

Question 15

What information is collected in a case study?

Answer 15

age, sex, occupation, hobbies, family history of hearing loss and any other complaints (dizziness or tinnitus)

Question 16

What are the focal points when doing an otoscopy?

Answer 16

Pinna (the external part of the ear) for any abnormalities

External auditory meatus (ear canal) for any impacted cerumen or debris or any indications of infections (swimmers ear)

Tympanic Membrane (eardrum) to check for fluid build-up (bubbles), redness, or physical damage

Question 17

What is an audiometric test?

Answer 17

ex: acoustic immittance testing (abnormalities)
non-behavioural (functional) measure - does not require a response from the client