Hearing & Deafness

Question 1

What are the different types of hearing loss?

Answer 1

1. Conductive
2. Sensorineural
3. Mixed (conductive + sensorineural)

Question 2

What is conductive hearing loss?

Answer 2

Happens when sounds are unable to pass from your outer ear to your inner ear
Due to ear wax or glue ear
Typically mild hearing loss

Question 3

What is sensorineural hearing loss?

Answer 3

Happens when there is a problem within the cochlea or the neural pathway to the auditory cortex
Mild to profound hearing loss
Not as easy to treat

Question 4

What is the prevalence of hearing loss?

Answer 4

11 million people in the UK
64% are 65+
45,000 children between 0-15 years (50% born with hearing loss)
50% children are undiagnosed by 2 years
25% children are undiagnosed by 3 years
95% deaf children have hearing parents

Question 5

How do hearing aids work?

Answer 5

Amplifies sound through a three-part system
Microphone - receives sound and converts it into a digital signal
Amplifier - increases digital signal strength
Speaker - produces amplified sound into the ear

Question 6

How do cochlea implants work?

Answer 6

Bypass damaged portions of the ear
Directly stimulates the auditory nerve
3-6 months - people make gains in understanding speech

Question 7

What are the different parts of a cochlea implant?

Answer 7

External part - microphone, speech processor, transmitter
Internal part - receiver and stimulator

Question 8

What do people with hearing loss have difficulty producing regarding speech?

Answer 8

1. High frequency phonemes - s, sh, f, t, k
2. Final-position phonemes
3. Parts of consonant clusters
4. Inappropriate volume and pitch