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  >> Book >> Medical >> ID #1421584  |   Show DetailsPrinter Friendly Page Tell A Friend
Communication and Swallowing Disorders
Brief articles on speech/language/hearing/swallowing problems.
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Entry #582971, added on 05-02-08 @ 11:19 pm EDT
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HearingEntry #582971
The human hearing system has several components. The outer ear consists of the cartilaginous external pinna which funnels sound to the auditory canal. The tympanic membrane (eardrum) at the end vibrates as sound waves strike it. Those vibrations are transmitted to the tiniest bones in the human body--the stapes, malleus, and incus--which in turn vibrate the fluid in the cochlea. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ lined with hair cells and filled with fluid. As the waves in the fluid move the hair cells, impulses are transmitted to the auditory nerve. This nerve relays the information to certain areas of the brain, which interpret them as sounds. When sound is prevented from traveling properly through the mechanical structures of the ear, a conductive hearing loss results. When sounds are not transmitted correctly through the nerves of the system, a sensorineural hearing loss is diagnosed.

Many children experience temporary hearing problems related to ear infections. The most common is otitis media, where fluid is retained behind the tympanic membrane. Often this fluid is related to head congestion that does not drain effectively. Because the inner side of the tympanic membrane has fluid pressing against it, sound waves have to strike it with more pressure to vibrate it, dulling the sense of hearing. In some cases, the pressure builds and the membrane may rupture. The fluid can also become infected. One reason young children may "get tubes" in their ears is to facilitate drainage of that fluid.

A kind of hearing loss common as adults age is called presbycusis. Years of wear and tear on the hearing system leave it less sensitive to sounds, especially in the higher frequencies. Noise exposure at any age can cause damage to the structures of the hearing system, resulting in hearing loss. Listening to music at a loud volume, especially with earphones, is one cause. Using firearms or loud equipment is another. This is why the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to provide hearing protection gear to workers in certain jobs.

An audiologist is a specialist trained and licensed to diagnose and treat hearing disorders. A hearing evaluation typically involves several components. A visual examination of the ear canal with an otoscope checks for malformations, foreign objects, cerumen (ear wax), and other blockages.  Pure tone audiometry tests each ear's ability to hear tones at specific frequencies. Speech recognition testing may also be done to determine how well a person understands stands speech sounds in words. Treatment for hearing loss can include amplification devices such as hearing aids, and/or training in communication strategies such as lip reading.

Hearing screenings are typically a state requirement for school-aged children. Many states require newborns to be screened for hearing loss, as well. Self-referral is a common way hearing loss is identified in adults. Answer the 10-question Hearing Handicap Inventory at http://www.aaiaudiology.com/questionnaire.html to see if you may have a problem.

For more detailed information on hearing loss, as well as related topics such as balance and auditory processing disorders, please visit http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/ .
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