Speech-Language Pathologists and Hearing

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Questions and Answers

What role do hair cells play in the perception of movement?

They amplify sound frequency.

They serve as a barrier for perilymph.

They eliminate sound pressure.

They detect changes in position by deflection. (correct)

What is the unit of measurement for sound intensity?

Hertz (Hz)

Bel

Phoneme

Decibel (dB) (correct)

Which frequency range is the human ear most sensitive to?

125 - 8000 Hz (correct)

20 - 125 Hz

500 - 4000 Hz

8000 - 20000 Hz

How is loudness different from intensity?

Intensity is objective information, loudness is perceptual. Signup and view all the answers

What can cause positional vertigo as related to the inner ear?

Lodging of otoliths. Signup and view all the answers

Which frequencies are less affected by amplification provided by the tectorial membrane?

High and low frequencies Signup and view all the answers

What type of nerve cells become spiral ganglion in the cochlea?

Nerve cells Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of transmission remains on the ipsilateral side in the central auditory system?

40% Signup and view all the answers

Where is the largest relay station for auditory signals located?

Inferior colliculus Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily coded by the superior olivary complex in the central auditory system?

Timing and latency needed to localize sound Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the medial geniculate body in the auditory pathway?

Auditory discrimination Signup and view all the answers

Where do sounds enter the brain's temporal lobes?

Heschl's gyrus Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the reticular formation in the central auditory pathway?

Selective attention regulation Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary roles of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in relation to hearing disorders?

Conducting screenings for communication and hearing disorders Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions is NOT part of the SLP's scope of practice regarding hearing screenings?

Fitting hearing aids for patients Signup and view all the answers

What is one way for SLPs to communicate hearing screen results?

Recommending follow-up with families based on results Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a responsibility of SLPs when referring children?

Referring children who are difficult to test to audiology Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about the technology used by SLPs in hearing screenings is accurate?

SLPs utilize advanced technology and state-of-the-art instruments for screenings Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of collaborating with audiologists in the hearing screening process?

To assist in equipment selection and quality improvement Signup and view all the answers

During a hearing screening, what should an SLP do if a child does not pass?

Provide counseling and education for families Signup and view all the answers

Which component of the ear is considered part of the outer ear?

Auditory canal Signup and view all the answers

What does the dB HL scale represent?

The level of sound that is detected by the human ear. Signup and view all the answers

How is the dB SPL computed?

Using the formula 20 log10(P/P0), where P0 is the reference pressure. Signup and view all the answers

What represents a sound level of 0 dB HL?

The threshold where normal hearing was measured. Signup and view all the answers

What does dB SL refer to in hearing testing?

The level of sound pressure above the threshold. Signup and view all the answers

Which scale is most appropriate for audiogram interpretation?

Logarithmic scale calibrated specifically for human hearing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of dB IL in audiology?

Calibrating audiometers for electrical measurements. Signup and view all the answers

What does the dB nHL scale adjust for when comparing to dB HL?

Correction factors due to neural processing differences. Signup and view all the answers

What does a negative dB level indicate about an individual's hearing?

They have a hearing sensitivity better than the average threshold. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Distortion Product OAE in compromised patients?

To provide frequency specific diagnostic information Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes one of the properties of sound?

Frequency measures the number of cycles per unit time Signup and view all the answers

In which frequency range does Distortion Product OAE typically test?

1000-8000 Hz Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a pure tone from a complex sound?

Complex sounds consist of overlapping pure tones Signup and view all the answers

What occurs in the Distortion Product regarding the stimulus tones f1 and f2?

It is 60 dB SPL lower than the combined stimulus tones Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Role of the SLP

SLPs screen for communication, hearing, and feeding and swallowing disorders.
SLPs can manage hearing loss.
SLPs use advanced instrumentation and technologies for evaluation, management, and care of individuals.
SLPs use state-of-the-art hearing screening instruments, hearing aids, and hearing assistance technology.
SLPs can assist with the maintenance and use of hearing aids.

Hearing Screening by SLPs

SLPs collaborate with audiologists to develop screening protocols, select equipment, and improve quality.
SLPs perform hearing screenings.
SLPs refer children who do not pass screening to services.
SLPs refer children who are difficult to test to audiology.
SLPs communicate results to families and recommend follow-up.
SLPs share screening results with programs, public health agencies, and other professionals.
SLPs provide counseling and education.
SLPs collaborate with professionals in other fields.

Anatomy of the Ear

The eighth cranial nerve connects the cochlea to the brain.
Nerve endings gather in the modiolus of the cochlea.
Nerves travel through the inner auditory canal.
High frequency nerves wrap around the outside of the auditory nerve, and low frequency nerves become the core.
The acoustic nerve joins the vestibular nerve to form the eighth cranial nerve.
The nerve cells become the spiral ganglion (not hair cells).
The eighth cranial nerve enters the cerebellum/brainstem at the cerebellopontine angle.

Central Auditory Pathway

The auditory signal enters the central system at the cochlear nuclei.
High and low frequency sounds enter the cochlear nuclei at different locations.
Approximately 40% of transmission is ipsilateral (efferent).
Approximately 60% of transmission crosses contralateral (afferent).
The cochlear nuclei code for timing, intensity, and frequency.
The cochlear nuclei transmit to the superior olivary complex.
The superior olivary complex is the first point of bilateral representation.
The superior olivary complex codes for timing and latency needed to localize sound.
The superior olivary complex transmits to the lateral lemniscus.
The lateral lemniscus is still tonotopic.
The lateral lemniscus has bilateral transmission, which is thought to help with hearing in noise.
The lateral lemniscus relays to the inferior colliculus.
The inferior colliculus is the largest relay station and highly sensitive to bilateral stimulation.
The inferior colliculus enters the medial geniculate body.
The medial geniculate body is the last station before the auditory cortex.
The medial geniculate body is found in the thalamus.
The medial geniculate body is important for auditory discrimination.
The reticular formation connects with multiple spots from the brainstem to the cerebrum.
The reticular formation is thought to regulate selective attention.

Auditory Cortex

Sound enters the temporal lobe at Heschl's gyrus.
The auditory cortex has diverse neural responses to the onset, cessation, and presence of sound.
Sound is sent to the auditory cortex.

Vestibular System

The vestibular system has endolymph and perilymph separated by the endolymphatic duct.
The vestibular system has hair cells that have a resting firing rate of neural activity.
Hair cell deflection increases or decreases the firing activity.
The brain perceives the changes as movement.
Otoliths can get lodged and create positional vertigo.

Audiogram

Audiograms are a graph showing a person's hearing ability.
Hearing level is represented in decibels (dB HL) on the y-axis.
Frequency is represented in Hertz (Hz) on the x-axis.
Hearing levels of 20 dB HL and above are considered normal.
"Air conduction" tests the entire ear, while "bone conduction" tests the inner ear and beyond.

Hertz/Frequency/Pitch

Frequency is often measured in Hertz (Hz), which refers to the number of cycles per second.
Frequency relates to the pitch of a sound.
Low frequency sounds = longer period.
High frequency sounds = shorter period.
Humans hear from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
The human ear is most sensitive between 125-8,000 Hz.

The Science of Sound

Sound travels as a pressure wave.
Sound is created by particles bumping into each other.

Sound Measurement Intensity

Intensity is the objective, physical measurement of sound.
Loudness is the subjective, perceptual experience of sound.
Decibels (dB) are units of measurement based on the physical properties of sound waves.
Sound pressure level (dB SPL) is used to measure a sound source's power.
Hearing level (dB HL) is used to measure a person's ability to hear.
Sensation level (dB SL) compares a sound level to a person's hearing threshold.
Neural hearing level (dB nHL) is used in auditory brainstem response testing.

dB Referents (Scales)

dB SPL (Sound Pressure Level) is used to measure hearing aid performance.
dB IL (Intensity Level) is used in electrical measurements and calibration of audiometers.
dB HL (Hearing Level) is used on hearing tests and audiograms.
dB SL (Sensation Level) refers to a sound level above a person's hearing threshold.

Decibels for Audiograms

Audiograms use a logarithmic scale for measuring hearing.
dB HL indicates the intensity of a sound wave.
The human ear can typically detect sounds between 0-140 dB HL.
Sound levels above 120 dB HL are painful.
0 dB HL is NOT the absence of sound.

Sound Measurement

Sound is measured using a logarithmic scale, rather than a linear scale.

Main Takeaways about Decibels

dB SPL measures sound pressure level using a logarithmic scale.
dB HL is calculated based on the average hearing threshold of a population.
0 dB HL represents a different sound pressure level than 0 dB SPL.

Audiograms

Audiograms are an inverse graph.
Audiograms show frequency on the x-axis and intensity on the y-axis.
Audiograms measure both air conduction and bone conduction.
Audiograms can be used to determine if a person's hearing is symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Distortion Product OAE

Distortion product OAE (DPOAE) is used to assess frequency-specific hearing ability.
DPOAE can be used for people with cognitive, communication, and developmental disabilities.
DPOAE can provide diagnostic information but is not a screener.
DPOAE can elicit a response in moderate to severe hearing loss.
DPOAE tests frequencies between 1,000-8,000 Hz.
DPOAE is used to monitor ototoxicity and noise-induced hearing loss.

Basilar Membrane and Tonotopic Organization

The basilar membrane is located in the inner ear.
The basilar membrane vibrates in response to sound.
Different frequencies of sound cause different parts of the basilar membrane to vibrate.
Tonotopic organization refers to the mapping of auditory frequencies along the basilar membrane and auditory pathway.

Properties of Sound

Pure tones are single, isolated pitches that have only one frequency (e.g., tuning forks and audiometers).
Complex sounds have multiple frequencies.

Pure Tones vs Complex Sounds

Pure tones have one frequency; complex sounds have two or more frequencies.
Pure tones are very simple sounds.
Complex sounds include all sounds beyond a pure tone.

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Description

Explore the essential roles that Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) play in hearing screening, evaluation, and the management of hearing disorders. This quiz covers SLP responsibilities, collaboration with audiologists, and the anatomy of the ear. Test your knowledge about the technologies used and the communication skills necessary for effective practice.