Audiology

Question 1

Outer Ear

Answer 1

• Acoustic Process
• Pinna (sound localization)
• External auditory meatus
• Terminates at tympanic membrane (eardrum)
• Cerumen (ear wax) protects ears from foreign items
  Function: amplifier, resonator

Question 2

Middle Ear

Answer 2

• Mechanical Process
• Tympanic Membrane
  – 3 layers: epidermal, fibrous, and membranous
• Ossicular chain - malleus, incus, stapes (miso!)
• Middle ear muscles
  1. Stapedius
  2. Tensor Tympani
  Eustachian tube opens to equalize pressure
  Function: conduction, protection

Question 3

Inner Ear

Answer 3

• Hydromechanical & chemical process
• Cochlea, temporal bone
• Basilar membrane
• Organ of Corti
  Outer Hair Cells - 12k
  Innre Hair Cells - 3500
  Function: converts mechanical sound waves to electrical activity and neural impulses

Question 4

Audiometry

Answer 4

testing that measures the range and sensitivity of an individual’s hearing

Question 5

Pure Tone Testing

Answer 5

1. Sounds go through middle & outer ear
2. Frequencies tested: 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz
   Used via headphones or external
   Response modes: hand raise, button
   Threshold: use method down 10 dB, up 5 dB

Question 6

Bone Conduction Testing

Answer 6

1. Tonal stimuli: sound through bone vibration direct to cochlea/ inner ear
   Frequencies tested: 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 Hz
   Presentation: bone oscillator behind the ear instead of headphones

Question 7

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)

Answer 7

1. Used with children who cant complete normal hearing screening or if hearing loss suspected in brain
2. Electrodes placed on head, record brain activity in response to sound
   Pass or fail for newborns

Question 8

Audiogram

Answer 8

• Graphic display of hearing test
• Identifies type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss
  Frequency range : 125 - 8000 Hz

Question 9

Otoacoustic Emissions

Answer 9

• Used to determine hair cell function
• Earphone/probe inserted into ear, OAE record response to that sound by vibration

Question 10

Carhart’s Notch

Answer 10

dip in audiogram at 2000 Hz due to stapes fixation

Question 11

Pure Tone Average

Answer 11

• Average of 500, 1000, and 200 Hz thresholds

Question 12

Type of Hearing Loss

Answer 12

identifies the site of damage of the auditory system

Question 13

Degree of Hearing Loss

Answer 13

refers to the severity of hearing loss (normal, slight, mild, moderate, mod-severe, severe, profound)

Question 14

Configuration of Hearing Loss

Answer 14

refers to the extent & pattern of loss across frequencies (flat, rising, sloping, high freq, precipitous)

Question 15

Conductive Hearing Loss

Answer 15

• outer and middle ear
• air bone gap greater than 10 dB
• sounds cannot get through outer and middle ear
  characteristics:
  Muffled hearing, ear pain,
  discharge

Question 16

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Answer 16

• Inner ear and/or CN VIII
• Air & bone thresholds are equal
• Both display a hearing loss
  Characteristics:
  Difficulty hearing, tinnitus,
  dizziness

Question 17

Degrees of Hearing Loss

Answer 17

• Normal 10-15 dB
• Slight 16 - 25 dB
• Mild 26 - 40 dB
• Moderate 41 - 55 dB
• Moderate - Severe 56 - 70 dB
• Severe - 71-90 dB
• Profound 91+ dB

Question 18

Flat Configuration

Answer 18

AC thresholds within 20 dB of each other

Question 19

Rising Configuration

Answer 19

AC thresholds for low frequencies at least 20 dB poorer than for high frequencies

Question 20

Sloping Configuration

Answer 20

AC thresholds for high frequencies at least 20 dB poorer than for low frequencies

Question 21

Low Frequency Config

Answer 21

hearing loss only found in the low frequencies

Question 22

High Frequency Config

Answer 22

hearing loss only found in the high frequencies

Question 23

Precipitous

Answer 23

high frequency thresholds worsen by at least 20 dB per octave

Question 24

Tympanometry

Answer 24

measurement of eardrum immittance as a function of air pressure in the canal
soft rubber tip is inserted into the ear canal, changing the pressure

Question 25

Static Admittance

Answer 25

admittance of middle ear system (mobility); height of peak

Question 26

Tympanic Peak Pressure

Answer 26

the point at which air pressure is equal on either side of the tympanic membrane

Question 27

Tympanic Width

Answer 27

describes the steepness and shape of the slope of the tympanogram, near the peak

Question 28

Canal Volume

Answer 28

estimates volume of the air medial to the probe

Question 29

Type A Tympanogram

Answer 29

Normal

Question 30

Type As

Answer 30

- shallow compliance - reduced peak height, normal pressure - indicates: middle ear fluid, osteosclerosis

Question 31

Type AD

Answer 31

- deep compliance - greater than normal peak height, normal pressure - indicates: ossicular disarticulation, TM Scaring

Question 32

Type B

Answer 32

- flat (no pressure or compliance) - no peak - indicates: middle ear effusion, perforated TM, cerumen occlusion

Question 33

Type C

Answer 33

- negative pressure - indicates: eustachian tube dysfunction, negative pressure

Question 34

Cookie Bite Hearing Loss

Answer 34

Rare type of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) that affects the ability to hear mid-range frequencies, between 500–2,000 Hz. It's named for the U-shaped shape of the audiogram results

Question 35

Tinnitus

Answer 35

Perception of noise or ringing in the ears without an external source

Question 36

Ear Infections (Otitis Media)

Answer 36

Inflammation or infection of the middle ear

Question 37

Otosclerosis

Answer 37

Abnormal bone growth in the middle ear causing conductive hearing loss

Question 38

Pinna (Auricle)

Answer 38

Collects and directs sound waves into the ear canal

Question 39

External Auditory Canal

Answer 39

Transmits sound waves from the pinna to the tympanic membrane

Question 40

Tympanic Membrane (Eardrum)

Answer 40

Vibrates in response to sound waves, transmits vibrations to ossicles

Question 41

Ossicles (Malleus, Incus, Stapes)

Answer 41

Transmit and amplify vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the oval window

Question 42

Eustachian Tube

Answer 42

Equalizes pressure between the middle ear and the atmosphere

Question 43

Oval Window

Answer 43

Transmits vibrations from the stapes to the fluid in the cochlea

Question 44

Round Window

Answer 44

Allows movement of fluid within the cochlea, aids in pressure relief

Question 45

Cochlea

Answer 45

Converts sound vibrations into neural signals

Question 46

Basilar Membrane

Answer 46

Supports the organ of Corti, separates scala media from scala tympani

Question 47

Organ of Corti

Answer 47

Contains hair cells that transduce mechanical sound vibrations into neural signals