Audiology Flashcards
What is pure tone audiometry used for?
to establish hearing threshold
What range of hearing do ototoxic medications tend to affect more?
higher frequencies
What are the axes on an audiogram?
x axis = frequency (Hz)
y axis = hearing level (dB)
What symbols represent each ear on an audiogram?
blue cross = left ear
red circle = right ear
How would presbycusis look on an audiogram?
bilateral symmetrical hearing loss
can hear low pitches better than high pitches
What does bone conduction testing look for?
problems with the cochlea
How does sensorineural hearing loss look on an audiogram?
air conduction results and bone conduction results very similar
cochlea is the problem
How does conductive hearing loss look on an audiogram?
bone conduction is better than air conduction
air-bone gap present
outer/middle ear problem - sound not reaching cochlea properly eg. eax, infection
What is mixed hearing loss?
bone conduction is better than air conduction but bone conduction is not within normal limits
What is masking in the context of hearing tests?
large difference in hearing thresholds between ears could lead to ‘cross hearing’
(>40dB air conduction, >10dB bone conduction)
masking temporarily elevates the non-test ear threshold so thresholds on the test ear can be accurately measured
narrowband noise is used
What is tympanometry?
measures the change in compliance (movement) of the eardrum
What does it mean if tympanometry peaks at 0daPa?
normal middle ear function
What does it mean if tympanometry peaks before 0daPa (peaked with negative pressure)?
eustachian tube dysfunction
What does it mean if tympanometry has no peak?
glue ear if normal ear canal volume
grommets/perforation if large ear canal volume
What are the 3 main parts of a hearing aid?
hearing aid
tubing
earmould/tip
