Hearing Loss Flashcards
what is conductive hearing loss? what is an example of what could cause this? how is this managed?
- something in the outer or inner ear that is preventing sounds from getting into the inner ear
ex. wax impaction –> kinda acts like an earplug
ex. fluid from an ear infection - can be medically managed
what is sensorineural hearing loss? who experiences this?
- loss in the inner ear
- damage to hair cells in the ear
- generally permanent
- more associated with aging or noise exposure
what is the outer part of our ear called?
- pinna or auricle
what is found at the end of the ear canal?
- ear drum or tympanic membrane
what does the eardrum do
- it vibrates in response to sound
what are the 3 small bones inside our body called?
- malleus
- incus
- stapes
what is the stapes
- smallest bone
- it interfaces with our cochlea
what is the cochlea
- inner ear
how does noise exposure cause sensorineural hearing loss?
- damages the cells in the inner ear
- once these cells are gone, theyre gone for good
what are characteristics of conductive hearing loss
- physical blockage
- difficulty hearing low pitched tones
what is cerumen? how does this change with age
- earwax
- get accumulation with age
how does the ear drum change with age
- becomes stiffer and thinner
what are the ossicles? how do they change with age?
- these are the 3 small bones in the ear (malleus, stapes, incus)
- get calcification with age
how do the ear muscles change with age?
- become weaker
how does sound movement change through the ear change with age?
- diminished sound movement through the inner ear
how does the CNS change with age?
- changes
