What is conductive hearing loss
outer/middle ear
wax build up or ear infection
typically for fixable
Sensorineural hearing loss
inner ear (cochlea or auditory nerve)
noise induced, ageing, or genetics
more permanent
What is mixed hearing loss
Outer/middle ear along with inner ear hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss upon a sensorineural hearing loss
Ex: age related hearing loss on top of current ear infection
What are the types of hearing loss
conductive, sensorineural, mixed
What are the degrees of hearing loss
mild to profound
What are the configurations of hearing loss
flat, sloping (poorer hearing in HF’s, rising (poorer hearing in LF’s)
When testing hearing loss how does air conduction work
sounds that are presented via AC course through the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, and beyond
When testing hearing loss, how does bone conduction work
sounds that are presented via BC bypass the outer and middle ear and directly stimulate the inner ear (cochlea) by mechanically vibrating the skull
What is behavioral testing
it requires a patient to respond “what did you hear” “which ear”
What is physiological testing
Does not require patient to respond. Can look at testing or brain to see hearing loss
How does comparing an individual’s response air conduction to bone conduction help?
helps to differentiate the types of hearing losses. helps to see which part of the ear is affected.
What is sensorineural hearing loss?
hearing loss in the inner ear.
typically medical/surgical management is not possible to help (besides cochlear implants)
Explain AC vs BC in sensorineural hearing loss
Both responses will present the same amount of loss
What is conductive hearing loss?
hearing loss in the outer or middle ear
could be due to inflamed ear
can be improved with medical/surgical management
Explain AC vs BC in conductive hearing loss
AC responses will present a loss, but BC responses will be normal (because BC bypasses outer and middle ear)
What is air-bone gap?
the difference between hearing by air conduction and hearing by bone conduction in the same ear
What is mixed hearing loss?
outer or middle ear hearing loss along with inner ear
“conductive hearing loss superimposed on sensorineural hearing loss”
conductive part can be treated but sensorineural hearing loss portion can not be treated
Explain AC vs BC in mixed hearing loss
bone conduction responses will present a loss, but air conduction responses will present an even greater loss
What is central hearing loss?
Decrease in auditory comprehension despite normal hearing sensitivity, regardless of language or cognitive abilities. due to some neurological disorders like store or tumor.
What is central auditory processing disorder
difficulty differentiating, recognizing, and understanding sounds that is not due to either hearing loss or intellectual impairment. due to underlying disease in the central nervous system
What is non organic hearing loss
When someone’s hearing evaluation shows some degree of hearing loss, but they either have normal hearing or insufficient auditory pathology to explain the extent of the loss. Possibly due to consciously “faking” the hearing loss for personal/ financial gain (malingering) or due to a psychological disorder that manifested in the symptom of hearing loss.
What to tuning forks emit?
pure tones
Why would tuning fork tests be used?
Might be used by physicians for a bedside assessment, lack of resources or time
