Glossary of Ear and Hearing Loss Terms

See Audio Induction Loop.

The subjective impression of “amplitude” or the intensity of a sound.

An audiological test used to determine at what level sounds become uncomfortably loud. If your scores are lower than normal at any given frequency you likely suffer from Recruitment or Hyperacusis.

See Large Vestibular Aqueduct Syndrome.

The concept that students with disabilities should be integrated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible, when appropriate to the needs of the student with the disability. This concept means that hard of hearing and Deaf children should go to regular schools rather than to special schools for the Deaf.

The first of the three middle ear bones. It is the bone touching the eardrum. Commonly called the Hammer.

The program stored in the speech processor of a cochlear implant that tells the system how to process sound on each channel so that it is most audible and comfortable for the individual user. Each implant user’s map varies considerably from every other user. Maps also change over time.

The process of programming a cochlear implant speech processor with various speech strategies.

Any sound that serves to cover up another. In regards to hearing aids, it usually refers to background sounds covering up what a person wants to hear, or to the sound coming from the hearing aid helping to cover up a person’s tinnitus.

Sound used by an audiologist to prevent one ear from hearing while the other is being tested.

The bone located behind the ear in which your inner ear is embedded. The “bump” behind your ear is called the mastoid process.

See Most Comfortable Loudness level.

A syndrome that consists of vertigo, tinnitus, a feeling of fullness in the affected ear and a fluctuating hearing loss. It is thought to be caused by fluid imbalance in the inner ear.

A bacterial or viral inflammation that can cause auditory disorders due to infection or inflammation of the inner ear or auditory nerve.

See Musical Ear Syndrome.

An air-filled cavity, about the size of a pea, between the eardrum and inner ear containing three tiny bones (called ossicles)—malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup)—that conduct sound from the eardrum to the inner ear via the oval window.

A hearing loss ranging between 26 and 40 decibels (dB).

A hearing aid that is between a CIC and canal aid in size.

A hearing loss generally of only 10 to 15 dB below normal. Hearing thresholds are between 20 and 35 dB. Basically equivalent to a slight to mild hearing loss.

An audiological test that can be used to measure the effect of sound on tinnitus. The MML is the softest level of sound that makes you unable to hear your tinnitus.

Having a negative attitude towards sound or certain sounds that may result in uncontrolled anger. Misophonia can be defined as abnormally strong reactions of the autonomic and limbic systems resulting from enhanced connections between the auditory and limbic systems, but do not involve a significant activation of the auditory system. The strength of the person’s reaction is only partially determined by the physical characteristics of the upsetting sound and is dependent as well on the person’s previous evaluation and recollection of the sound (e.g., sound as a potential threat, and/or the belief that the sound can be harmful), the person’s psychological profile and the context in which the sound is presented. (See also Phonophobia.)

A combination of both sensorineural (inner ear) and conductive (middle ear or outer ear) hearing loss. The audiogram shows an air-bone gap of 10 dB or more.

A colloquial abbreviation for Meniere’s disease from the Latin “Morbus Meniere” meaning “disease of Meniere”. (See Meniere’s Disease.)

see Minimum Masking Level.

A hearing loss ranging between 41 and 55 decibels (dB).