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Acoustic Neurinoma
A benign tumor of the 8th cranial nerve which lies in the tube connecting the inner ear to the brain.
Acoustic Neuroma
A benign tumor of the 8th cranial nerve which lies in the tube connecting the inner ear to the brain.
Acoustic Neuroma (Vestibular Schwannoma)
A benign tumor that occurs on the acoustic (hearing) branch or vestibular (balance) branch of the 8th cranial nerve.
Acoustics
The science and technology of sound
Air Conduction
The transmission of acoustic signals through the entire outer, middle and inner ear hearing system. This is the label used for the responses obtained through earphones.
Ambient Noise
Background noise associated with a given environment. Typically a composite of sounds from many sources located both near and far. No particular sound is dominant.
Amplitude
The displacement of a wave. In the case of a sound wave, the greater the amplitude of the wave, the greater the intensity, or pressure, of the sound. The extent to which air particles are displaced in response to the energy of a sound.
ANR
Active Noise Reduction, an electronic method of canceling noise.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute.
Anvil
Where vibrations are passed on from hammer, one of the smallest bones in body
APD
Reduced or impaired ability to discriminate, recognize, or comprehend complex sounds, such as those used in words, even though the hearing is normal (such as coat/boat or sh/ch).
Assistive Listening Device
A class of hearing instruments designed to increase the signal to noise ratio between the listener and the speaker. Such examples are FM systems that transmit via FM wave bands, infrared systems that transmit via infrared signal, personal amplifiers, telephone amplifiers, amplified or vibrating alarm clocks or alerting (flashing) fire alarms.
Attenuation
Reduction of sound pressure level as in "hearing protector attenuation"
Audiogram
A chart showing a person's hearing ability over a range of frequencies.
Audiometer
An instrument used to measure a person's hearing ability.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)
This test provides objective information about the upper auditory system including the inner ear and brainstem. This is a simple and non-invasive test on part of the patient. Electrodes are placed on the ears and head while a click stimulus is presented through soft foam earplugs. This test records the brainwave response to the stimulus. The audiologist will complete analysis and interpretation of the results and your otolaryngologist will discuss the test results with you.
Auditory Cortex
The area of the brain (in the temporal cortex) that connects fibers of the auditory nerve and interprets nerve impulses in a form that is perceived as sound.
Auditory Nerve
The eighth cranial nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brainstem and is responsible for hearing and balance.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Reduced or impaired ability to discriminate, recognize, or comprehend complex sounds, such as those used in words, even though the hearing is normal (such as coat/boat or sh/ch).
A-Weighting
A noise measurement that has been corrected to reflect the way a human would hear it. A-weighted measurements also better indicate the potential damage a noise might cause to our hearing.
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