Hearing Loss Flashcards
Nervous System
CNS- In vertebrae’s it compromises the brain + spinal cord. Neurons carry electrical impulses and are connected by synapses.
PNS- Connects CNS to the rest of the body; afferent= sensory, brings info to CNS; efferent motor, delivers info from CNS to muscles or glands
Reflex Arc- Neuron pathway that triggers a reflex action; receptor action; receptor receives stimulus, sensory neuron carries impulse along afferent path to integration centre in CNS; interneurons process + pass impulses to motor neuron; impulse travels along effector path to effector.
Voluntary actions- Thought of + consciously performed. Full control. Involuntary- Refers to immediate action that happens without conscious effect.
Voluntary Muscles- make the body move. Attached to skeleton + can be controlled. Have fast twitch + slow twitch fibres. Fast twitch fibres contract quickly, but do not use oxygen + tire quickly. Slow contract slowly, but use oxygen.
Ear Infection
There are different types of ear infections. Middle ear infections, inner and outer ear infections. Otis Media with effusion affects the middle ear. It occurs when fluid builds up in the middle ear without being infected and without causing fever, ear pain or pus build up in the middle ear.
Virus Structures + Replication
Viruses- non-cellular infectious particles. Nucleic Acid Core. Protein coat- ‘capsid’. Some viruses have an outer layer-envelope- formed from membrane- phospholipids. Parasitic- reproduce by infecting living cells
Replication- Virus attaches itself to host cell, injects genetic material into host cell, Viral DNA incorporates into host cell- replicates the viral newly created viruses and released from the host cell, cell breaks apart.
Research
Otoscopy- An examination that involves looking into the ear with an otoscope. Performed to examine the ‘external auditory canal’ – the tunnel that leads from the outer ear (pinna) to the eardrum.
Pure Tone Audiometry is a behavioural test that is aimed at measuring the severity and balance of an individual hearing loss. This measurement involves looking at the peripheral and central auditory systems. Otologist usually conducts pure tone audiometry test and analysis the recorded audiogram to determine the degree of hearing loss to an individual.
Tympanometry- Small probe in each ear. Small device attached will push air into ear. Shape of graph shows movement. Will show if: eardrum moves correctly. Or is too stiff, moves too much or has a hole in it= ear infection
How do loud noises cause hearing loss?
Movement of air causes hairs in ears to vibrate- too loud can break- neuron sends message every time they move
Treatment
Hearing Aids- Useful in improving hearing + speech communication
Implants- A cochlear implant may be an option if you have severe, permanent hearing loss is not helped by hearing aids. Work by turning sounds into electrical signals + sending them to the cochlear. Signal travels to brain- sound. Microphone- electric signals. Device in skull- picks up signals.
Corticosteroids- Anti-inflammatory medicine. Reduce inflammation + suppress immune system, Oral steroids- 2 weeks, 2-4 week window of time for treatment before hearing loss becomes permanent. Mimics the effects of hormones in adrenal gland
