I
Non–hearing aid devices used by a hearing impaired individual to improve communication and the performance of activities in specific environments. Include devices such as infrared and FM personal amplifiers, alerting devices, and closed captioning equipment.
Assistive Listening Devices (ALD’s)
The lowest level that an individual can hear a pure–tone stimulus presented through a vibrator placed on the mastoid bone or forehead.
Bone Conduction Thresholds
The high–pitched whistling sound that can be emitted by a hearing aid when the hearing aid’s microphone picks up its own output, thus re–amplifying itself.
Feedback
The middle bone of the ossicular chain.
Incus
Individual who becomes deaf after having acquired language.
Postlingually Deafened
The absence or closure of the external auditory meatus (ear canal).
Atresia
Snail–shaped structure in the inner ear that contains the organ of hearing.
Cochlea
An abnormal hole or rupture in the window that connects the middle ear cavity and the cochlea, allowing the leakage of inner ear fluid (perilymph) into the middle ear and often resulting in hearing loss and dizziness.
Fistula
A sound introduced into an ear system for the purpose of covering up an unwanted sound.
Masking Noise
Loss of hearing that gradually occurs because of changes in the inner or middle ear in individuals as they grow older
Presbycusis
Inability of an individual with normal hearing and intelligence to differentiate, recognize, or understand sounds normally.
Auditory Processing Disorder
Hearing loss caused by an abnormal transmission of sound in the outer or middle ear. Most common in children.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Portion of the stapes bone that is attached to the two crura and that sits in the oval window.
Footplate
Physician/surgeon who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, and head and neck.
Otolaryngologist
Sensation of a ringing, roaring, or buzzing sound in the ears or head. It is often associated with many forms of hearing loss and noise exposure.
Tinnitus
Injury to the middle ear caused by a rapid change of air or water pressure.
Barotrauma
A small connection between the throat and the middle ear cavity which in the normal human ear system is utilized to equalize the pressure in the middle ear cavity to the pressure in the atmosphere surrounding the body.
Eustachian Tube
Cycles per second. The number of vibrations occurring during a second, resulting in the perceived “pitch” of a sound.
Frequency
Physician/surgeon who specializes in diseases of the ear.
Otologist
Surgical repair of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) or bones of the middle ear.
Tympanoplasty
A term used to signify that both ears or both sides of the head are involved
Bilateral
When the tube that connects the throat and the middle ear cavity becomes inflamed or blocked. Can lead to negative pressure, fluid in the middle ear, and/or middle ear infections.
Eustachian Tube Dysfunction
Another name for tympanometry.
Immittance Measurements
Abnormal growth of bone around the ossicles and the inner ear. This bone prevents structures within the ear from working properly and causes hearing loss.
Otosclerosis
Illusion of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around an individual
Vertigo