Glossary of Ear and Hearing Loss Terms

A doctor trained to specialize in diseases of the ear, sinuses, mouth, throat, larynx and other structures of the head and neck. Commonly called an ENT—ears, nose and throat doctor.

The medical specialty that deals with problems of the ears, nose, throat, head and neck.

A type of drop attack without vertigo in which the person regains their balance in a few minutes without other side effects. Sometimes used of drop attacks due to Meniere’s disease.

See Otoconia.

(oh-TALL-oh-jist) An otolaryngologist who has completed a specialty fellowship focused on ear disorders. Otologists complete over 10 years of medical training and a specialized otology training fellowship prior to entering practice.

The medical specialty that deals exclusively with ear and hearing problems.

An ears (oto), nose (rhino), laryn (throat) doctor, commonly called an ENT doctor. The same as an Otolaryngologist.

Bleeding from the ear canal. Ear hemorrhage.

A purulent discharge (puss) draining from the ear canal.

(OH-toe-sklair-ROW-sis) An inherited dominant genetic condition that causes abnormal spongy bone growth on the tiny bones in the middle ear and in the bone surrounding the oval window. Often this results in the stirrup (stapes) becoming fixed to the oval window of the cochlea, Because the stapes no longer vibrates freely, this causes a progressive conductive hearing loss. If the otosclerosis eventually invades the cochlea (cochlear otosclerosis), the result is additional (sensorineural) hearing loss.

(OH-toe-scope) A special combination flashlight/magnifying glass used for examining the ear canal and eardrum.

(oh-toe-TOX-ick) Refers to any chemical or medication (drug) that is potentially harmful to the auditory system—especially to the cochlear and vestibular organs and associated nerves—concerned with hearing and balance. Ototoxic medications may aggravate an existing hearing problem or cause new hearing problems. For a more in-depth understanding of ototoxic drugs, read this article.

The external portion of the ear that collects sounds waves and directs them into the ear. The outer ear consists of the pinna and the ear canal.

The membrane between the middle and inner ear where the stirrup (stapes) bone sits. The footplate of the stirrup pulsates with the sound vibrations in the middle ear and transmits them into the fluid of the inner ear.

Impaired hearing. Hearing loss. Also used to refer to auditory illusions or auditory hallucinations.

See Diplacusis.

See Physicians’ Desk Reference.

See Pressure Equalization tube.

An eardrum that has ruptured or has a hole in it. The fancy term is tympanic membrane perforation. This is commonly a result of a middle ear infection, and is often indicated by pain, bleeding or discharge.

Around the time of acquiring language.

The outer of the two fluids in the inner ear. The inner fluid is called endolymph.

A tear in the oval or round windows separating the middle ear from the inner ear allowing perilymph to drain into the middle ear. This can cause hearing and balance problems sometimes similar to Meniere’s disease.

A permanent worsening of hearing due to noise exposure.

The smallest unit in a language that is capable of conveying a change in meaning. For example, the “m” in “mat” versus the “b” in “bat.” There are 41 phonemes in the English language.

A fear of sound, or specific sounds. Phonophobia 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 Misophonia.)