midterm 1 Flashcards
input
intensity of acoustic signal entering the device
-as dB or loudness descriptor in the software
gain
amount of amplification added to the input signal
-the dB added to each frequency range and the input level
output
intensity of the signal thats delivered to the ear canal
-the signal arriving at the tympanic membrane
equation to describe what is arriving at the tympanic membrane
dB input + dB gain = dB output
dB is always within _______
dB SPL
-remember there are different conversion factors but these are not intended for everyone
acoustic horn principle
as a signal arrives to a large horn and is channeled down to a smaller space, this causes the signal to increase (SPL increases)
-these horns amplify sound when waves are reflected into a narrower area
what are the acoustic benefits with hand cupping
-can add clarity to consonants
-can add 5-10 dB of gain
-can attenuate acoustic signals arriving from the rear
-effective for some with borderline hearing/very mild HL around the 1500 Hz area
explain the carbon microphone process and how it goes from acoustic signal to an electrical signal
the acoustic signal arrives to the microphone and vibrates the diaphragm which gets compressed and when it moves inward, the carbon balls get pushed together (positive voltage flow). the sound waves goes outward and will bring the diaphragm out with the carbon balls (negative signal)
-this back and forth direction results in an electrical wave that matches the input acoustic signal
what is the purpose of the receiver
converting that electrical signal back to an acoustic signal for the ear to hear
-after it becomes an electrical signal it will go through the receiver and will become an acoustic signal again
quick overview of a carbon microphone
sound wave → arrives at microphone → pushes on diaphragm and compresses carbon balls → creates a analog signal as the sound wave continues → creates a analog electric signal → receiver picks up the electric signal and makes it back to an acoustic wave
importance of a vacuum tube amplifier
this was the first HA with an amplifier that added gain to increase the amplitude of the analogous electrical signal
-vacuum tube amplifier was the first one created/used
transistors
electrical component used to increase current flow of the signal
-amplifies the amplitude of a signal
resistors
electrical component used to add or remove resistance to the flow of the current
-modifies the output
-can add more or less of certain frequencies
potentiometer
small resistors that the amount of control used can modify the output signal in the ear analog HA
function of the potentiometer
controls the flow of the signal
-can increase clarity, output and can add in certain frequencies
-can decrease output
-can reduce feedback
3 impression materials
addition cured silicone, condensation cured silicone and methyl-methacrylate
viscosity
how easily it flows before it is cured
-high will provide resistance during flow, will stretch the aperture
-low is runny, no resistance, no stretch to aperture
shore value
if it will remain its shape or will it be altered after its cured
-high or low shore value (will stay or will change)
stress relaxation
the materials ability to return to shape after removal from canal
-high and low stress relaxation (bounces back and does not bounce back)
contraction ratio
looking at the shrinkage over a 7 day period
-will it be the same or does it shrink
addition cured silicone
low viscosity, high shore value, high stress relaxation, will not shrink
condensation cured silicone
high viscosity, high shore value, high stress relaxation, will not shrink
methyl-methacrylate
medium viscosity, low shore value, low stress relaxation, will shrink
what is the ideal depth for an ear mold impression
2 mm beyond the second bend
risk factors within patient Hx
-immunocompromised or diabetic (infection risk)
-therapeutic blood thinner (bleeding risk)
-Hx of ear surgery (potential ear canal malformation)
-any allergies to silicone, lubricant ingredients, etc.
risk factors based on otoscopy
-collapsing canal (may limit depth)
-perforation or PE tubes
-malformations
-thick hair growth
-piercings (need to cover)
what is the purpose of the open jaw impression
they can increase the size of the aperture for a snugger fit
-the condyle of the mandible moves forward and will pull the anterior canal wall with it
how to treat bleeding post impression
apply pressure to the wound for 10 minutes using a large cotton otoblock soaked in a vasoconstrictor
-recheck a week later
what frequencies contribute the most to speech intelligibility
95% of the information we need to understand a word comes between 500-5000 Hz
-within this, 2000 Hz has the most contribution
linear amplification
adds equal amount of gain to soft, moderate and loud input levels
-does not take the dynamic range into account
nonlinear amplification
uses compression to increase the intensity of soft signals while decreasing the intensity of loud signals
-output signal is shaped into a reduced dynamic range by adding more gain to soft sounds and less gain to loud sounds
describe the abnormal loudness growth function
individuals with HL can have troubles with hearing soft sounds, but loud sounds are equally as loud as normal hearing
-this the is premise behind the abnormal loudness growth
-they have limited/no hearing in low frequencies than perceive louder sounds at that level, results in a reduced dynamic range
how can HL result in an abnormal loudness growth
with sensory loss and OHC damage, this can result in the loss of amplification of those soft signals
how do HAs manage frequency specific variations in a persons dynamic range
they can alter soft sounds to add gain and can remove gain from loud sounds
-can be done through compression ratios (CR) that can shape the output signal into a reduced dynamic range
frequency resolution
refers to the auditory system ability to detect discrete frequencies in the cochlea
how does frequency resolution change with SNHL
when OHCs can no longer amplify soft inputs, the basilar membrane can no longer produce the sharp tuning curve, which creates a difficulty hearing in noise
-the primary signal is no longer enhanced and get tangled in with background noise
-these sharp peaks supplies the frequency resolution we need for speech intelligibility
temporal resolution
the auditory systems ability to detect small time related changes in the acoustic stimuli over time
-the ability to rapidly pick up and identify different timing elements and processes in order for speech to be intelligible
what processes support temporal resolution
-gap detection (spoon vs. soon)
-phonemic duration (the length of words/statements/sounds)
-temporal ordering (boots vs. boost)
-suprasegmentals (patterns of stress, intonation and rhythm)
temporal envelope
slow overall change in intensity over time
-the outline, low detail
-supplies speech intelligibility in quiet
temporal fine structure
rapid oscillations within the temporal envelope
-detail, more information
-supports detection of signals in noise