Hearing Disorders

Question 1

Conductive hearing loss

Answer 1

• conduction of sound through the ear is being affected
• all frequencies are affected
• buildup of earwax usually
• shows up in the lower frequencies of 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz which are called speech frequencies
• not restricted to just lower frequencies

Question 2

Speech frequencies

Answer 2

• frequencies of 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz
• a person’s hearing needs to be normal in these frequencies in order to hear speech
• if below these ranges, people will find it difficult to hear people talk

Question 3

Conductive Loss

Answer 3

• hearing loss caused by a middle ear infection
• usually in speech frequencies but not necessarily in higher frequencies

Question 4

Sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 4

• caused by noise
• the transmission of sound from the nerve endings (hair cells) is affected
• Problems with the inner ear
• shows up in higher frequencies of 3000, 4000, 6000, 8000 Hz (only evident unless loss is severe in which is will be accompanied with tinnitus)
• not usually noticeable by the individual
• not usually restricted to to high frequencies
• the worse it is, the more it will spread to lower frequencies
• many influences on this type of hearing loss

Question 5

Influences on sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 5

• • hereditary
• prenatal (rubella or lack of O2 to fetus during delivery
• childhood illnesses ( scarlet fever, mumps, measles, etc)
• Meniere’s disease (build up of fluid in inner ear)
• exposure to industrial agents ( lead, heavy metals, organic solvents (toluene), carbon monoxide.
• exposure to drugs (ototoxins) –> antibiotics (mycin drugs), diuretics, meds to treat erectile dysfunction, chemo/cancer drugs

Question 6

Noise exposure

Answer 6

• accelerates the aging of the ear
• natural hearing loss is called presbycusis
• is additive = combination of age and noise exposure contributes to hearing loss as age increases