Ambient Noise–Background noise present in the screening area.

Amplification–The use of hearing aids and other electronic devices to increase the loudness of a sound so that it may be more easily received and understood.

ASHA–American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Audiogram–A graph on which a person’s ability to hear the safest sound at different frequencies as recorded.

Audiologist–A professional who specializes in preventing, identifying, and assessing hearing impairments as well as managing any non-medical rehabilitation of individuals with hearing loss.

Audiometer–An instrument used to measure hearing.

Auditory Nerve–The eighth cranial nerve in the human body. The auditory nerve is the nerve of hearing that sends signals from the cochlea to the brain.

Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)–A non-invasive test that measures responses in the brain waves to auditory stimulus. This test can indicate whether or not sound is being detected, even in an infant. This test may also be referred to as Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER), Brainstem Evoked Potential (BSEP), and Brainstem Evoked Response (BSER).

Binaural–Pertaining to both ears.

Calibration Checks–Methods to determine the accuracy of an audiometer. The two primary methods are:

• Biological–Checking the hearing in one ear with the right and left headphones.
• Electronic–Measurement of the absolute sound pressure levels of each frequency and other characteristics, e.g. harmonic distortion, frequency count, rise-fall time.

Cerumen–The wax like secretion found within the external auditory canal; ear wax.

Cochlea–Snail shaped, fluid-filled capsule, which contains the organ of hearing.

Cochlear Implant–An electronic device surgically implanted in the inner ear to stimulate nerve endings (cochlea) in order to receive and process sound and speech.

Compliance–A measurement taken during tympanometry showing the excursion of the eardrum as a function of sound reflected back to the tympanometer under varying pressures.

Conductive Hearing Loss–A hearing impairment due to “problems” in the outer and/or middle ear, which prevents air-borne sound from being conducted to the cochlea.

Congenital Hearing Loss–Hearing loss present at birth or associated with the birth process, or which develops in the first few days of life.

Decapascals (daPa)–The unit of measurement of the pressure used in tympanometry. The usual measured range is from +200 daPa to –400 daPa.

Decibel (dB)–Logarithmic unit that expresses the intensity of a sound.

ENT–A medical doctor who specializes in the ears, nose, and throat. Sometimes referred to as an otolaryngologist, or otologist.

Electronic–Measurement of the absolute sound pressure levels of each frequency and other characteristics, e.g., harmonic distortion, frequency count, rise-fall time.

External Auditory Canal–Includes auricle and external meatus up to the tympanic membrane or ear canal.

Frequency–The number of vibrations per second of a sound. Frequency is expressed in Hertz.

Hertz (Hz)–The unit of measurement that specifies the frequency of a sound wave. Often referred to as the pitch of the sound.

Hearing Aid–An electronic device that conducts and amplifies sound to the ear.

Hearing Level–The amount of hearing loss indicated by audiometry and measured in terms of decibels for any given frequency; may be used synonymously with “hearing threshold level” (HTL).

Hearing Loss–Varies greatly from person to person. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) classifies hearing loss as follows:

• 0-20 dB–normal
• 21-25 dB–slight
• 26-40 dB–mild
• 41-55 dB–moderate
• 56-70 dB–moderately severe
• 71-90 dB–severe
• 91+ dB–profound

High Risk–Children who have one or more of the risk factors known to impact hearing.

Incus (anvil)–The middle bone of the ossicular chain.

Inner Ear–Made up of the cochlea, semi-circular canals, and vestibules.

Intensity–The loudness of a sound, measured in decibels (dB).

Loudness–The psychological correlate of intensity.

Malleus (hammer)–The first bone of the ossicular chain; it is attached to the eardrum.

Mastoid–The hard bony area of the temporal bone just behind the auricle.

Middle Ear–The portion of the ear from the eardrum (tympanic membrane) to the inner ear.

Mixed Hearing Loss–A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

Myringotomy–Surgical opening of the ear drum with or without insertion of a ventilating tube.

Noise–Any sound that is unwanted, undesired, or interferes with one’s hearing.

Ossicles–Three small bones in the middle ear cavity; malleus, incus, and stapes.

Otitis Media–Inflammation of the middle ear or eardrum.

Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)–This test evaluates hearing in infants and young children who cannot be tested using common methods. The test measures sound that is reflected back into the ear canal. It uses a computer to analyze responses.

Otoscope–Instrument to examine the ear canal and eardrum.

Outer Ear–The part of the ear from the pinna to the eardrum (tympanic membrane)consisting of the auricle and external auditory canal.

Pinna–Outer ear, sometimes called the auricle.

Pitch–The psychological correlate of frequency.

Play Audiometry–Special technique used to screen hearing of young children and/or developmentally delayed individuals.

Pure Tone–A tone of a single frequency produced by an audiometer. A pure tone contains no harmonics or overtones.

Screening Audiometry–Hearing test procedures used to identify individuals in need of further hearing evaluation. Also called Sweep Screening.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss–A type of hearing loss due to pathology of the inner ear (cochlea) or the nerve pathway from the inner ear (cochlea) and/or nerve of hearing to the brain stem. Sensorineural damage is usually irreversible.

Stapes (stirrup)–The third and smallest bone of the ossicular chain.

Threshold–The softest (minimum) hearing level at which an individual is able to respond to a tone at least 50 percent of the time.

Tubes–See Ventilation Tubes.

Tympanic Membrane–A thin membrane between the external auditory canal and the middle ear cavity, it moves in response to sound waves and sets the ossicular chain into motion.

Tinnitus–Inner ear sounds (ringing, buzzing, or roaring) perceived from possible damage to nerve cells.

Tympanogram–The visual representation (results) of tympanometry.

Tympanometry–An instrument that measures the movement of the tympanic membrane and middle ear system under varying air pressures.

Unilateral Hearing Loss–A mild to profound hearing loss in one ear.

Ventilation Tubes–Small plastic or metal tubes inserted through the eardrum to drain fluid from the middle ear cavity and to equalize air pressure in the middle ear.