A

Acoustic Nerve

The vestibulocochlear nerve or the auditory nerve. The VIIIth cranial nerve which runs from the inner ear to the brainstem and contains fibers carrying both auditory and vestibular information.

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Axon

Definition: Portion of a neuron that conveys the neural impulse away from the cell body to the terminal button. What is an axon? An axon

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Auricle

The auricle is the cartilaginous structures of the external ear located peripheral to the skull. What is the Auricle of the ear? The auricle, also

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Aural Rehabilitation Therapy

What is aural rehabilitation? Aural rehabilitation therapy or training sessions are designed to improve communication skills. Aural rehabilitation (AR) is a set of  therapy or

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Audiologist

What is an Audiologist?” An audiologist is a hearing healthcare professional who has earned a Master’s Degree (M.S or M.A) or Doctorate Degree (Au.D or

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Au. D

Definition: Doctor of Audiology; A clinical doctorate degree What is an Au. D degree? An Au. D (Doctor of Audiology) is a professional doctorate degree

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Atresia

What is Atresia? The absence or closure of the external auditory meatus (ear canal). What does atresia mean? Atresia is a medical term that means

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Antagonistic

What are Antagonistic Muscles in Audiology? In audiology, antagonistic muscles are two muscles that have opposite actions. When one muscle contracts, the other muscle relaxes.

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B

Binaural Squelch

What is Binaural Squelch? Binaural squelch is the improved ability to focus on a desired sound in the presence of undesired sounds when you hear

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Body Hearing Aid

What is a body aid hearing aid? A body hearing aid is an older style of hearing aid in which the electronic components and batteries

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Bone-Conduction Thresholds

What is Bone-Conduction Thresholds? Bone-conduction thresholds are the lowest level that an individual can hear a pure-tone stimulus presented through a vibrator placed on the

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Behavioral Audiometry

Behavioral audiometry is a hearing test that requires some type of visible and voluntary response from the individual being evaluated. What is behavioral audiometry evaluation?

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Bilateral

A term used to signify that both ears or both sides of the head are involved. For example, “he has bilateral hearing loss” means that

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Binaural

What binaural means? Binaural hearing refers to the ability to hear with both ears. This allows us to localize sounds in space, distinguish between different

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Binaural Advantages

What are binaural advantages? Binaural advantages are the benefits that people with hearing loss experience when they use hearing aids in both ears. These benefits

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Binaural Summation

Binaural summation is the increase in perceived loudness of a sound when it is presented to both ears compared to when it is presented to

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Brainstem

What is the Brainstem? The brainstem is the portion of the brain that is below the cerebrum and anterior to the cerebellum. It is a

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Basilar Membrane

What is the Basilar Membrane? The Basilar Membrane is located inside the cochlea. It separates scala media and scala tympani; on this membrane rests the

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C

Custom Hearing Aid

A custom hearing aid is a hearing aid that is made specifically for the individual’s ear.  What is a Custom Hearing Aid? Custom hearing aids

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Cued Speech

What is Cued Speech? Cued Speech is a visual communication system that uses hand shapes, facial expressions, and body language to represent the sounds of

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Crus

What is Crus? The crus or crura are the two side parts of the stapes bone of the middle ear. They are named after the

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Cortex

The cortex is the outer layer of the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain. It is made up of gray matter, which is mostly

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Cookie Bite Audiogram

What is Cookie Bite Audiogram? A cookie bite audiogram is a description of the graph of an individual’s hearing thresholds in which the middle frequencies

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Cone of Light

What is Cone of Light? The cone of light is a triangular brightness that is visible on the lower portion of the tympanic membrane (eardrum)

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Condensation

Also called compression, condensation is the portion of a sound wave where the air molecules are most tightly packed together.  What is Condensation in Hearing

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D

dB HL

Decibels hearing level. 0 dB HL is the softest sound that can be heard by the average person with normal hearing. It is not the absence of sound, as persons with better than average hearing will have thresholds lower than 0 dB HL (e.g -10 dB HL)

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Dendrite

What is a Dendrite? A dendrite is a branch-like extension of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons. Dendrites are responsible for collecting information

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Digital

What is digital hearing? Digital hearing is a type of hearing aid that uses digital technology to amplify sound. Digital hearing aids are more advanced

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Diplacusis

What is Diplacusis? Diplacusis is a condition in which a person hears a single tone as two or more tones. This can be a very

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Direct Audio Input

Direct Audio Input (DAI) is a feature on some hearing aids that allows an external audio source to be connected directly to the hearing aid.

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Dispenser

What is dispensing in Audiology? Dispensing audiology is a branch of audiology that focuses on the selection, fitting, and adjustment of hearing aids. Dispensers are

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Dri-Aid Kit

What is a Dri-Aid kit? A dry aid kit is a product that is used to help keep hearing aids dry. It contains drying agents

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DSP

What is DSP? Digital signal processing (DSP) is a way of manipulating digital audio signals to improve their quality or functionality. DSP is used in

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dB SL

What is dB SL? dB SL stands for decibels sensation level.  What does dB SL mean? It is a unit of measurement that is used

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dB SPL

dB SPL stands for decibels sound pressure level.  What does dB SPL mean? dB SPL is a unit of measurement that is used to express

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Decibel

What is a Decibel? A decibel (dB) is a unit of measurement used to express the relative loudness of a sound. It is a logarithmic

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Decussation

Decussation is a common phenomenon in the nervous system. It occurs in many different parts of the brain and spinal cord. What is decussation? Decussation

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E

Ear Canal

The external auditory meatus. The hole in the temporal bone that tunnels the sound from the pinna to the ear drum (tympanic membrane).

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Eardrum

What is the eardrum? The eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is a thin, semi-transparent membrane that separates the ear canal from the middle

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Earmold

What is an earmold? An earmold is a custom-made piece of plastic that is inserted into the ear canal to help hold a hearing aid

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Entrainment

Entrainment is an undesired effect of some anti-feedback circuitry in which the feedback reduction algorithm attempts to eliminate an incoming sound as if the sound

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Equilibrium

What is Equilibrium? Equilibrium is the ability to maintain balance. It is a complex process that involves the vestibular system, the visual system, and the

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Evoked Potentials

What is Evoked Potentials? Evoked potentials (EPs) are electrical signals that are generated by the brain in response to a stimulus. These signals can be

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Exostosis

What is Exostosis? Exostosis is a bony growth that can develop in the ear canal. It is a common condition, especially in people who spend

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Eustachian Tube

What is the Eustachian Tube? The Eustachian tube, also known as the auditory tube, is a small canal that connects the middle ear to the

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Etiology

What is Etiology? In hearing terms, etiology refers to the source or cause of a hearing loss. There are many different causes of hearing loss,

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F

Feedback

The high-pitched whistling sound that can be emitted by a hearing aid when the hearing aid’s microphone picks up its own input, thus re-amplifying itself

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Flat Audiogram

A flat audiogram is a description of the graph of an individual’s hearing thresholds in which the degree of loss present is similar or equal

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Footplate

The footplate is the portion of the stapes bone that is attached to the two crura and that sits in the oval window. The footplate

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Frequency

In audiology, frequency is the number of vibrations that occur in one second. It is measured in hertz (Hz), and the human hearing range is

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Fistula

What is Fistula? A fistula is an abnormal hole or rupture in the window that connects the middle ear cavity and the cochlea, allowing the

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Full Shell

What is Full Shell? A full shell hearing aid is a type of in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aid that fills up the entire bowl area of

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G

Gain

What is Gain? In audiology, gain is a term used to describe the amount of additional intensity added by a hearing aid or other amplifying

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H

Head Shadow

Head shadow is the attenuation of sound by the head. This is because the head blocks the path of sound waves, which results in a

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Hearing Loss

What is hearing loss? Hearing loss is the inability to perceive the presence of a sound at normal hearing levels. This can be caused by

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Helicotrema

What is Helicotrema? The helicotrema is a small opening at the apex of the cochlea. It allows fluid to flow between the scala vestibuli and

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Helix

The helix is the curved/raised rim of the external ear (pinna). It is one of the three main parts of the pinna, along with the

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Hertz (Hz)

What is frequency in hertz (Hz)? Frequency is the number of times a sound wave repeats itself per second. It is measured in hertz (Hz),

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Hard of Hearing

What is Hard of Hearing? Hard of hearing is a term used to describe hearing-impaired individuals with mild to severe/profound hearing impairment who are not

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Head Shadow Effect

What is Head Shadow Effect? The head shadow effect is a phenomenon in audiology that refers to the attenuation of sound waves as they travel

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Hearing Aid

What is a hearing aid? A hearing aid is a small electronic device that is worn in or behind the ear to amplify sound. Hearing

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I

Impedance

What is Impedance? Impedance is a measure of the opposition to the flow of energy through a medium. It is a complex number that has

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Incus

What is the Incus? The incus is the middle bone of the ossicular chain, which is a series of three bones that transmit sound waves

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Infrared

What is Infrared? A signal used by some assistive listening devices to send sound via infrared light waves What is an infrared hearing system? An

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Inner Hair Cells

What are Inner Hair Cells? Inner hair cells (IHCs) are the sensory cells in the cochlea that are responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical

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Insertion Gain

What is Insertion Gain? Insertion gain is an important measure for hearing aid fitting. It helps to ensure that the hearing aid is providing enough

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In Situ

What is In Situ? In situ is a Latin term that means “in place” or “in the natural position.” In audiology, the term in situ

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Intensity

What is Intensity? In audiology, intensity refers to the loudness or volume of a sound. It is measured in decibels (dB). The lower the dB

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J

K

Kilohertz

What is a Kilohertz? kHz stands for kilohertz, which is a unit of measurement for frequency.  What is kHz in audiology? Frequency is the number

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Kneepoint

What is a Kneepoint? A kneepoint is a point on a graph that represents the change in slope.  What is kneepoint in audiology? In audiology,

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L

Localization

What is Localization? Localization is the ability to determine the location of a sound source. This is done by the brain using cues from the

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Low Profile

Low profile hearing aids are a good option for people who want a discreet hearing aid that is still powerful enough to provide effective hearing

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Labyrinth

The labyrinth is a vital part of the inner ear. It is responsible for both hearing and balance.  What is the Labyrinth in the Ear?

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Listening Stethoscope

What is a Listening Stethoscope? A listening stethoscope is a device used by hearing healthcare professionals to listen to a hearing aid for the purpose

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Lobule

What is the Lobule? The lobule is the fleshy, lower part of the pinna, or outer ear.  What is lobule in the human body? The

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Loop System

A hearing loop system is a type of assistive listening device that uses a magnetic field to transmit sound directly to a hearing aid or

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Levator Veli Palatini

What is the Levator Veli Palatini? The levator veli palatini (LVP) is a muscle in the nasopharynx that is responsible for elevating the soft palate.

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Lateralization

What is Lateralization? Lateralization is the perception by an individual that a sound is being heard on one side due to a timing and intensity

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Linear/Non-Linear

What is a Linear/Non-Linear Hearing Aid? A linear hearing aid is one that adds the same amount of gain to the incoming signal, regardless of

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M

Myelin

What is Myelin? Myelin is a fatty material that covers portions of some neurons’ axons. It insulates nerves from each other, and permits rapid transmissions

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Multi-Channel Hearing Aid

What is a Multi-Channel Hearing Aid? A multi-channel hearing aid is a programmable hearing aid that allows the dispenser to adjust the instrument’s compression characteristics

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Mucous Membranes

What are Mucous Membranes? Mucous membranes are moist, soft tissues that line many parts of the body, including the nose, throat, and ears. They secrete

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Monaural

What is Monaural in Audiology? Monaural sound output is the opposite of binaural sound output, which is sound that is presented to both ears. What

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Medium

What is a Medium? In audiology, a medium is the substance through which sound travels. Sound is often defined as the vibration of the molecules

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Meniere’s Disease

What is Meniere’s Disease? Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The symptoms of

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Microphone

What is a Microphone? A microphone is a device that converts sound waves into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is then amplified and sent

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N

Nystagmus

What is Nystagmus? Nystagmus is a rhythmic, involuntary movement of the eyes. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including inner ear disorders,

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O

Oval Window

What is the Oval Window? The oval window is a membrane-covered opening in the bony labyrinth of the inner ear. It is located in the

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Output Limiting

What is output limiting in hearing aid? Output limiting is a feature of hearing aids that helps to prevent the output of the hearing aid

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Otolaryngologist

What is an Otolaryngologist? An otolaryngologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose,

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Outer Ear

What is the Outer Ear? The outer ear is the most peripheral part of the human auditory system. It consists of the auricle (pinna) and

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Ototoxic Medications

What are Ototoxic Medications? Ototoxic medications are prescription or over-the-counter drugs that can have a temporary or permanent detrimental effect on an individual’s hearing or

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Otosclerosis

What is Otosclerosis? Otosclerosis is a condition that affects the middle ear. It is characterized by the formation of abnormal bone on the stapes, a

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Otoscopic Examination

What is an Otoscopic Examination? Otoscopic examination is a procedure that uses an otoscope to look into the ear canal and tympanic membrane (eardrum). It

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Otoscope

What is an Otoscope? Otoscopes are a valuable tool for diagnosing ear problems. They are easy to use and can provide valuable information about the

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Otorrhea

What is Otorrhea? Definition: Otorrhea is the medical term for ear drainage. It can be caused by an infection in the outer ear or middle

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Otologist

What is an Otologist? An otologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear. Otologists

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Otoblock

What is an Otoblock? An otoblock is a sponge or piece of cotton that is used to prevent impression material from going too deep into

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P

Pumping

What is Pumping? Pumping is a fluctuation in volume noticed by a hearing aid wearer due to the instrument’s compression characteristics. It can be caused

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Programmable

Being programmable is a helpful feature on more current hearing aids that allows them to be attached,  via a cord, to a computer in an

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Presbycusis

What is Presbycusis? Presbycusis is a progressive hearing loss that is attributed to the aging process. It is the most common type of hearing loss

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Pinna

What is the Pinna? The pinna is a part of the ear made up of cartilage. It is also referred to as the auricle.  The

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Prelingual Hearing Loss

What is Prelingual Hearing Loss? Hearing loss that occurs prior to a child developing speech and language skills. What causes prelingual hearing loss? Prelingual hearing

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Power Hearing Aid

What is a Power Hearing Aid? A power hearing aid is a type of hearing aid that is designed specifically for individuals with severe to

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Potentiometer

What is a Potentiometer? A potentiometer is a type of variable resistor. It is used to control the amount of current that flows through a

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Pars Tensa

The pars tensa is the tense portion of the tympanic membrane, or eardrum.  What is the Pars Tensa? It is made up of three layers:

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Q

Quality of Life (QoL)

Definition: In hearing terms, QoL refers to the increased ability to enjoy and pursue daily activities when a hearing loss is addressed with amplification.  

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R

Rarefaction

What is Rarefaction? Rarefaction is the portion of a sound wave where the air molecules are most spread apart and have the lowest pressure. This

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Resonance

What is Resonance? Resonance can occur in any object or medium that can vibrate. Resonance can be used to amplify sound waves. It can also

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Retrocochlear

What does Retrocochlear mean in medical terms? Retrocochlear means “behind the cochlea.” In audiology, retrocochlear refers to hearing loss that is caused by damage to

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Reverberation

Reverberation can be a desirable or undesirable effect in sound. In music, reverberation can be used to create a sense of space or atmosphere. However,

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Round Window

What is the Round Window in Your Ear? The round window is a membrane-covered opening in the cochlea of the inner ear. It is located

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Recruitment

What is Recruitment in Audiology? Recruitment is a condition that occurs in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), a type of hearing loss that affects the inner

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S

Swimplugs

What are Swimplugs? Swimplugs are earplugs that are specifically designed to keep water out of the ear canal. They are often used by swimmers, surfers,

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Sound Booth

What is a Sound Booth? Sound booths are typically made of sound-absorbing materials, such as acoustic foam or fiberglass. The walls, ceiling, and floor of

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Stria Vascularis

What is stria vascularis? The stria vascularis is a specialized region of the inner ear that is responsible for producing and maintaining the endolymph, the

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Stapes

What is the Stapes? The stapes is the smallest and last bone in the ossicular chain, a chain of three bones that transmit sound waves

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Stapedius

What is the Stapedius? The stapedius is the smallest skeletal muscle in the human body. It is located in the middle ear, and its tendon

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Speech Reading

What is Speech Reading? Speech reading is the technique of using lip reading and other visual cues produced by a speaker to help with the

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Speech Mapping

What is Speech Mapping? Speech mapping is a type of real-ear measurement (REM) that uses speech as the input signal. This allows audiologists to see

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Speech-Language Pathologist

What Does a Speech-Language Pathologist Do? A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a healthcare professional who assesses speech and language development and treats language and speech

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Speech Audiometry

What is Speech Audiometry? Speech audiometry is a valuable tool for assessing a person’s ability to understand speech. However, it is important to remember that

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T

Tympanometry

What is Tympanometry? Tympanometry is a test that measures the mobility of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and the middle ear cavity. It is a painless

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Tympanogram

What is a Tympanogram? A tympanogram is a graph that shows the mobility of the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. It is a test that is

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Tympanic Membrane

What is the Tympanic Membrane? The tympanic membrane, also known as the eardrum, is a thin, semi-circular membrane that separates the ear canal from the

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Tuning Fork

What is a tuning fork? A tuning fork is a handheld device that produces tones that are essentially pure tones. Tuning forks of different sizes

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Transmitter

What is a Transmitter? A transmitter is a device that sends a signal from one place to another. In audiology, a transmitter is used in

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Traveling Wave

What is a Traveling waves? A traveling wave is a wave that moves through a medium, transporting energy from one point to another. In the

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Trapezoid Body

What is the trapezoid body? The trapezoid body is a nerve fiber pathway in the lower brainstem that decussates from one hemisphere to the other.

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Tragus

What is the Tragus? The tragus is a small, cartilaginous prominence that projects in front of the ear canal. It is covered with skin and

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Tonotopic Organization

What is the Tonotopic Organization?” Tonotopic organization is the spatial arrangement of neurons in the auditory system such that neurons that respond to similar frequencies

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U

Umbo

What is an umbo? An umbo is the centermost point of the tympanic membrane, or eardrum. It is the point at which the tympanic membrane

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Unilateral

What is Unilateral in Audiology? Pertaining only to one ear or one side of the head (i.e., The person with hearing loss on the right

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Utricle

What is the Utricle? The utricle is a small, sac-like structure located in the vestibule of the inner ear. It is part of the vestibular

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V

Volume Control

What is Volume Control? Volume control is a wheel or button on the faceplate of a hearing aid or on a remote control that is

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Vestibule

What is the vestibule in the human body? The vestibule is a part of the inner ear that is located between the cochlea and the

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Vestibulocochlear Nerve

What is the Vestibulocochlear Nerve? The vestibulocochlear nerve, also known as the auditory nerve or the eighth cranial nerve, is a sensory nerve that connects

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VIII Nerve

What is the VIII Nerve? The VIII nerve, also known as the vestibulocochlear nerve or the acoustic nerve, is the eighth of twelve cranial nerves.

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Vertigo

What is Vertigo? Vertigo is a sensation of spinning or feeling like the world is spinning around you. It is a symptom of a problem

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Vent

What is a Vent? Some hearing aids come with vents already built in, while others require the addition of a vent. Vents can also affect

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W

Wavelength

What is a Wavelength? Wavelength is the distance between two points on a wave that is in the same phase of vibration. In audiology, the

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Wax Loop

What is a wax loop? A wax loop is a small tool used by professionals and hearing aid users to clean ear wax out of

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WNL

What is the WNL? WNL stands for “within normal limits.” In audiology, this term is used to describe hearing that is within the normal range.

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X

Y

Z