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The Hearing Dictionary Online - M, N, OA | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L Mainstream - the reassignment of children with disabilities from specialized classrooms into the regular school environment Malleus, pl. mallei - one of the bones of the middle ear, also known as the hammer due to the shape of the bone. It is the first and largest of the ossicles. The handle is attached to the eardrum, while the head is attached to the roof of the tympanic cavity by the superior malleolar ligament, and moves (articulates) with the incus (anvil). It is approximately 8 mm long. Masking noise - (1) a mixture of frequencies made up in various ranges - narrow, broad, white, or complex - introduced into one ear to prevent the hearing by that ear of a tone or sound presented to the other ear. (2) any unwanted sound that interferes with the ability to hear the wanted sound. Mastoid - the raised portion of the temporal bone behind the outer ear Mastoid Cavity - the bony area around the ear Mastoiditis - inflammation of the mastoid process of the temporal bone. Occurs when the mastoid cavity is inflamed and becomes infected. Mastoiditis often follows otitis media due to the proximity of the mastoid cavity to the middle ear space. Measles - childhood infectious disease causing rash and fever. A viral infection that may cause hearing loss. It does not always lead to hearing loss, but it can cause a wide range of sensorineural hearing loss from monaural to binaural and mild to profound in degree. Menier's disease, Menier's syndrome - (Prosper Meniere, French physician, 1799-1862). Endolymphatic hydrops - the malfunction of hearing and balance caused by excessive inner ear fluids. A condition whose intermittent symptoms include dizziness, nausea, tinnitus, and progressive deafness. syn. labyrinthine hydrops. Microphone - the part of the hearing aid that picks up sounds Microphone, sound-probe - tiny microphone on a thin rod or cylinder designed to study sound waves in small confined spaces such as the ear canal with a minimum of disturbance to the wave form. Also known as a probe-mic system. Microtia - abnormally small congenital malformation of the pinna Middle ear - (Auris media, or tympanic cavity). The portion of the hearing mechanism between the outer and inner ears. Consists of eardrum, the ossicles, the opening of the eustachian tube, the oval window, and the round window. Minimum Response Level - the softest level to which a person responds to sounds presented during testing Mixed Hearing Loss - a hearing loss which has both a conductive and sensorineural component Modulation, frequency - variation of the frequency of a radio carrier wave in accordance with an audio or other signal. Monaural - pertaining to one ear Motor - pertaining to motion or muscular movement; can be either gross (large) such as shoulder or knee, or fine (small) such as fingers Mumps - infectious fever or inflammation of the parotid gland. A viral infection that may cause hearing loss. It does not always lead to hearing loss, but it can cause a wide range of sensorineural hearing loss from monaural to binaural and mild to profound in degree. Narrow-band Noise - a sound stimulus generally produced by one-third octave band filtering of broad-band white noise. Neomycin (see also Kanamycin and Streptomycin) - Generally the effect of these drugs on hearing is profound, although their effect is of course related to the dosage. Since physicians are well aware to the hearing from these drugs, large doses are prescribed only when urgent as a life-saving measure. When the saving of life is involved, sacrifice of the hearing assumes a secondary importance. Nerve, cochlear - branch of the eighth cranial (acoustic nerve that arises in the cochlea and conveys sound stimuli to the brain. The nerve of hearing. Neural Hearing Loss - hearing loss pertaining to areas beyond the inner ear, i.e. the brainstem and brain Neurodegenerative Disorder - a type of neurological disease marked by the loss of nerve cells Neurofibromatosis - a genetic disorder of the nervous system that causes tumors to form on the nerves anywhere in the body at any time. Acoustic or central neurofibromatosis or (NF-2) features tumor growth restricted to the acoustic nerve and central nervous system Organ of Corti - a structure resting on the basilar membrane within the cochlear duct (scala media). It contains the essential sensory elements of hearing, the hair cells, and their supporting cells. The function of the hair cells is to convert sound pressure waves into nerve impulses, which are transmitted by way of the eighth cranial nerve to the brain. It is the end-organ of hearing. syn. organum spirale. Oscillator - a device that vibrates to produce sound Ossicles - the three tiniest bones (malleus, incus and stapes) in the body contained in the middle ear. They convey sound impulses from the eardrum to the oval window. Ossification - to harden like bone; become bone Ossicular Chain - the collective term of the ossicles of the middle ear whose purpose is to lead the sound striking the eardrum further into the inner ear Otitis - a broad term for inflammation of the ear Otitis Media - inflammation of the middle ear Otitis Media, acute - a short and relatively severe middle ear inflammation charcterized by a rapid onset. Symptoms include severe ear pain, restlessness, redness of the eardrum, and fever. Acute otitis media usually responds well to medical treatment. In some cases, the eardrum may rupture and the fluid then drains from the ear. If left untreated, acute otitis media may lead to more severe middle or inner ear conditions. See more details in our section titled For Concerned Parents. Otitis Media, chronic - persistent inflammation of the middle ear. See more details in our section titled For Concerned Parents. Otitis Media with effusion - accumulation of thin, watery fluid in the middle ear Otoacoustic emission (OAE) - a test procedure which measures the echo of sound produced by the ear when a stimulus is presented Otoblock - a foam or cotton block which is placed in the ear canal when making an ear impression for custom hearing aids/earmolds Otolaryngology - The medical field of specializing in medicine of the Ear, Nose and Throat. Otologists - Otologists, Otolaryngolists and E.N.T. physicians are medical doctors trained in diagnosing and treating diseases of the ear, and in identifying types of hearing loss that respond to medical or surgical treatment. Some offices may have a hearing aid specialist or dispensing audiologist on staff for patients who can benefit from the use of hearing aids. Otoscope - a device used to magnify and view the ear canal and eardrum Otoscopy - inspection of the ear canal and eardrum using an otoscope, special microscope, or video monitor Otosis pl. otoses - (1) mishearing or misunderstanding of spoken sounds. (2) mispronunciation of words resulting from faulty hearing Ototoxic - poisonous to the auditory system. Ototoxic drugs are poisonous to the ear; use of some may cause a severe hearing loss. These ototoxic drugs, of which approximately 200 have been classified, are typically used in the United States only if a life threatening illness is present. Outer Ear - external most portion of the auditory mechanism Oval Window - An opening in the bone between the air filled middle ear cavity and the fluid filled inner ear, and is covered by a thin membrane. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L HearingCentreOnline.com would like to thank and acknowledge Starkey Labs and Siemens Hearing for their generous contributions of some of the definitions in this online dictionary of hearing terms. |
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