Glossary of Ear and Hearing Loss Terms

711 is the 3-digit code to dial to reach a Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Operator for use when using a teletype (TTY) and phoning a person who is deaf or has limited hearing.

See Auditory Brainstem Implant.

See Auditory Brainstem Response testing.

See Air Conduction.

A slow-growing, benign tumor on the auditory and vestibular nerves that develops when cells that cover and insulate the nerves overproduce.

A contraction of muscles in the middle ear in response to loud sounds that that produces a stiffening of the eardrum. This helps reduce the damaging effects of loud sounds.

Using sound-absorbing materials (such as carpets and acoustical tile) to reduce noise. This makes it easier for hard of hearing people to understand what is being spoken.

Having to do with sound, the sense of hearing or the science of sound.

A hearing loss that was not present at birth.

Same as Adventitious Hearing Loss.

An infection of the middle ear that often includes pain, fever and conductive hearing loss.

See Americans with Disabilities Act.

Same as Acquired Hearing Loss.

A hearing loss that occurs sometime after birth.

A harmful result of a drug as opposed to the desired therapeutic effect. Often just referred to as a “side effect.” For example, tinnitus and dizziness are common side effects of many ototoxic drugs.

See Automatic Gain Control.

See Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease.

Transmission of sound to the inner ear by way of the ear canal and the middle ear. In hearing testing, air-conduction testing is performed by sending sounds to the ear though an earphone or loudspeaker.

The transmission of sound through the outer and middle ear to the cochlea.

The hearing threshold for a pure tone delivered from an earphone or ear inserts.

Any difference between how a person should hear and how they actually hear if some of the sound is being lost as it passes through the middle ear. In hearing testing, any difference between hearing responses for earphone or loudspeaker (air conduction) and bone vibrator (bone conduction). A gap or difference between air-conduction and bone-conduction responses indicates a conductive hearing loss due to problems in the middle ear.

See Assistive Listening Device.

A visual (usually flashing lights) or tactile (vibrating) device that alerts a person who cannot hear to sounds such as door knocks/doorbells, telephones ringing and fire alarms.

See Assistive Listening System.

Same as Background Noise.