Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
1.3.1 – Good Vibrations
1.3.2 – Hear Me Now LoggerPro
1.3.3 – Cochlear Implant Debate
Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
As we continue to follow Sue Smith we learn that she is still dealing with
the aftermath of her bacterial meningitis infection.
The antibiotics eliminated the infection and Sue made a full recovery
Although Sue has not noticed any symptoms of hearing loss, she has
scheduled an appointment to have her hearing evaluated due to the high
incidence of hearing loss in patients who have recovered from meningitis.
In this lesson you will:
• Investigate the physics of sound
• Learn how hearing works
• Conduct a variety of hearing assessments
Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
Lesson Overview
You will be assigned a patient with a specific type of hearing loss.
Using the assigned patient case study you will:
• Explore how damage to the outer, middle, and/or inner ear results in
hearing loss
• Learn how to interpret audiograms and match up their patient case study
with the corresponding audiogram
• Use what you have learned to make a recommendation as to what
intervention is the most appropriate for the patient case study
• Investigate both sides of the cochlear implant debate
Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects millions of people in the United States
Hearing loss can drastically impact a person’s ability to communicate
A significant amount of time and money has been invested into research
to develop interventions to treat hearing loss
Although the degree of hearing loss varies from individual to individual,
there are only three types of hearing loss:
1) Sensorineural hearing loss
2) Conductive hearing loss
3) Mixed hearing loss
Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
Understandings
Problems with one or more structures within the ear cause various types
of hearing loss.
There are a variety of interventions available to help people with hearing
loss.
Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
Knowledge and Skills
It is expected that students will:
• Identify the structures of the ear and describe their function in hearing.
• Describe the pathway of sound vibrations from the time a sound is
generated to the time the brain registers the sound.
• Recognize that there are bioethical concerns and considerations related
to the use of cochlear implant technology.
• Demonstrate sensorineural versus conductive hearing loss on a model of
the ear.
• Perform several simple tests, such as Rinne Test and the Pure Tone Test,
to evaluate hearing.
• Interpret audiograms to identify different types of hearing loss.
• Recommend the most appropriate type of intervention for a patient with
hearing loss, given the patient’s audiogram.
Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
Essential Questions
1) How do frequency and amplitude affect how humans interpret sound?
2) What causes different types of hearing loss?
3) How is hearing loss diagnosed?
4) What interventions are available for patients with hearing loss?
5) What are the bioethical concerns related to the use of cochlear implant
technology?
Lesson 1.3
The Aftermath: Hearing Loss
KEY TERMS
Crossword Puzzle
Activity 1.3.1 - Good Vibrations
1.3.1.A GoodVibrations
1.3.1.A.SR StudentResourceSheet
Activity 1.3.1 - Good Vibrations
Status of Sue Smith
• Bacterial meningitis infection was quickly diagnosed and treated
• The antibiotics eliminated the infection
• Made a full recovery
• Returned to school
• Began practicing with the soccer team again
Two months have passed since her initial diagnosis
• Sue’s primary care physician has given her a clean bill of health
• The physician recommended having her hearing checked
• The physician explains that although Sue has not noticed any symptoms
of hearing loss, the incidence of hearing loss in patients who have
recovered from meningitis is very high
• Sue has scheduled an appointment with an audiologist, a healthcare
professional specializing in treatment of patients with hearing loss and
related disorders.
Activity 1.3.1 - Good Vibrations
In this activity you will:
• Investigate the physics of sound
• Learn how hearing works and what can go wrong in the ear that causes
different types of hearing loss
• You will be assigned a patient with a specific type of hearing loss and will
show the cause of the hearing loss on a model of the ear