Audiometry Flashcards
Describe air conduction assessment
Assess whole pathway by use of headphones/earphones
Describe bone conduction assessment
Bone conductor to directly stimulate cochlea
Describe ‘masking’
It is possible that responses come from the non-test ear. A narrow band noise centred around the test frequency is used to distract the non-test ear
How will sensorineural hearing loss appear on audiometry
No significant gap between air and bone conduction
What causes sensorineural hearing loss?
Regular/prolonged exposure to loud noise Ototoxic drugs Genetics Infections Complications at birth Benign tumours Presbycusis (ageing)
What is the pathology behind sensorineural hearing loss?
Results from damage to the hair cells with the cochlea
Describe hat a audio graph of sensorineural hearing loss would look like
Both air and bone conduction decreasing with higher pitches only being heard at higher volumes
How will conductive hearing loss appear on audiometry?
Significant gap between air and bone conduction - bone conduction is normal but air abnormal
What are the causes of conductive hearing loss?
Ear infections
Glue ear
Perforated ear drum
What is the pathology behind conductive hearing loss?
An abnormality in the outer/middle ear meaning sound cannot pass freely to the inner ear
How will mixed hearing loss appear on audiometry?
Significant gap between bone and air but bone is not within normal range - combination of both types of hearing loss
What causes a mixed hearing loss?
Genetic Birth defect Infections Tumours Head injury Otosclerosis
What is otosclerosis characterised by?
Carhart’s notch at 2kHz
How is the middle ear tested?
Tympanometry
Describe tympanometry
Tests middle ear function by creating variations of pressure in the ear canal
