Physics of Sound/Basics
What Hertz (Hz) measures
the frequency (pitch) of a sound
scientific term for ear wax
cerumen
bone anchored hearing aids are appropriate for this type of hearing loss
conductive (or mixed)
three bones in the middle ear
malleus, incus, stapes (all in ossicular chain)
damage to the cochlea results in this type of hearing loss
sensorineural (or mixed)
Two questions an audiologist could ask when taking the patient's history
-Do you have a family history of hearing loss?
-Have you ever had hearing aids before?
-What brings you in today?
-What is your occupation?
the two main functions of the auricle and pinna
to collect and funnel sound
to localize sound
Cochlear implants are best for this type of hearing loss
sensorineural
pathologies in the outer ear can reduce hearing by this amount
10-15 dB
the cochlea contains this nerve
auditory nerve
pure tones are this type of wave
sine wave
the outer, middle, and inner ear are all part of this auditory system
peripheral
A patient with mixed hearing loss would have _____ air conduction and _____ bone conduction (normal or impaired)
impaired AC and impaired BC
pathology often described as "arthritis of the bones of the middle ear"
otosclerosis
the structure at the base of the cochlea that leads to the middle ear
oval window
Increased pressure in a wave is ______, while decreased pressure in a wave is _______
increased: compression
decreased: rarefraction
the amount of sound that the tympanic membrane amplifies
20-30 dB
Air conduction determines the ______ of hearing loss, whereas bone conduction determines the ______ of hearing loss
Air conduction determines the degree of hearing loss
Bone conduction determines the type of hearing loss
this pathology occurs when fluid in the eustachian tube does not drain and it gets infected
otitis media
how the cochlea is tonotopically arranged
parts of cochlea are better at amplifying different frequencies
high frequencies on the outside
low frequencies on the inside
the frequency range of human speech
250-8000 Hz
the impact of more surface area in the external auditory meatus (EAM) of an adult in terms of sound
decreased resonance
decreased dB amplification
slight hearing loss range in children
15-25 dB
the three main congenital outer ear pathologies and what they are
microtia: external ear is not formed properly (has four gradations)
atresia: no ear canal
anotia: complete absence of the external ear and ear canal
the reason why people start losing high frequency hearing first
because high frequency receptors are on the outside of the cochlea