C A R LY C A S H , K R I S T I N S I N K , A LY S S A M C M A N A W AY,

C H R I S C A S TA L D O , M AT T L E W I S , M A G G I E D E A C O N

HEARING DISORDERS AND ASSISTED TECHNOLOGY - AMPLIFICATION DEVICES

BIOLOGY OF HEARING

http://youtu.be/0jyxhozq89g?t=34s

HEARING DISORDERS - 4 TYPES

Conductive hearing loss - Illnesses/obstructions in the outer/middle ear such as chronic ear infections that prevent sound from reaching the inner ear

Sensorineural hearing loss - Damage to the sensitive hair cells inside the cochlea

Mixed hearing loss - A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss

Central hearing loss - Damage to the auditory nerve that sends signals from the cochlea to the brain

HEARING LOSS CAN BE:

- Acquired - fluid build up behind the eardrum, chronic ear infections, childhood diseases (chicken pox, mumps, measles), head trauma

- Congenital - Family history, infections during pregnancy (rubella), complications during pregnancy

REFERENCES

(2010) Deafness and Hearing Loss: Disability Fact Sheet #3. NICHCY Washington, DC. p. 1-6.