Glossary of Ear and Hearing Loss Terms

See OtoAcoustic Emissions.

Measurement of hearing sensitivity based on predictions made from physiologic responses such as ABR. The child’s participation is not required.

A change in the acoustical properties of the ear that results from the physical presence of a hearing aid in the ear canal. The result is that the person feels like they are talking inside a barrel—natural sounds seem muffled. Some modern hearing aids can largely overcome the occlusion effect by using “open fit” ear molds.

Agency responsible for administering industrial safety standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Act in the USA. This includes safe noise levels.

A two-to-one relationship between frequencies. Thus 1000 Hz is one octave above 500 Hz.

See Otitis Media with Effusion.

This is the traditional microphone that is built into hearing aids. It picks up sounds from all directions.

Hearing aids that use open fit ear molds. These ear molds fit loosely in the ear canal and thus permit natural sounds to enter and the louder low frequency sounds from the hearing aid to escape thus preventing the distorted and muffled occlusion effect.

A digital hearing aid that can be set for different hearing losses and also has he potential to be reprogrammed to code or filter speech in ways that may not even have been invented yet.

An approach based on the principle that most hard of hearing and deaf people can be taught to listen and speak with early intervention and consistent training to develop their hearing potential. The goal is for these children to grow up to become independent, participating citizens in mainstream society. Also known as Auditory-Oral Education.

A professional interpreter who sits facing a person with hearing loss while silently repeating/rephrasing what a speaker is saying using good lip/facial movements and modifying some difficult-to-see words to make it easier of the hard of hearing person to speechread.

Same as Oral Interpreter.

That part of the cochlea containing the hair cells.

A hearing loss caused by a physical condition in contrast to a Functional Hearing Loss.

Oscillating or bouncing vision caused by excessive motion of an image on the retina. Oscillopsia results when the vestibular system is destroyed or severely damaged.

See Occupational Safety and Health Agency.

(OSS-ih-kulls) General term referring to any small bone, but mostly used to refer to the three tiny bones—malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup)—in the middle ear.

Surgery to repair or replace one or more of the bones in the middle ear.

The fancy medical term for ear pain.

(oh-TITE-is) An inflammation involving some portion of the outer, middle or inner ear.

Infection (inflammation) of the outer part of the ear extending into the ear canal. It may be accompanied by pain, swelling and secretions. Sometimes referred to as “swimmer’s ear.”

Inflammation of the tissue lining the middle-ear cavity. Often resulting in infection (fluid) in the middle ear. It occurs when the Eustachian tube becomes blocked and the fluid that builds up in the middle ear becomes infected. Usually results in a temporary conductive hearing loss. Common in children. Children with recurrent attacks may have fluctuating hearing loss and may be more at risk for acquiring permanent hearing loss.

Inflammation of the middle ear with an accumulation of fluid behind the eardrum in the middle ear space.

Inaudible, but measurable, sounds created by the vibrations of hair cells in the cochlea, which bend with the movement of fluid. OAEs are measured with a sensitive microphone placed in the ear canal. OAEs are used by audiologists as a test of inner ear (cochlear) function.

Small crystals of calcium carbonate that adhere to the gelatinous membrane in the utricle and saccule. Sometimes called otoliths.