An Audiologist Is…
An audiologist is a state licensed health-care professional that
holds either a doctoral degree or a master’s degree in
audiology from an accredited university.
• Audiologists perform any of the following functions:
o
o
o
o
prescribe and fit hearing aids
assist in cochlear implant programs
perform ear- or hearing-related surgical monitoring
design and implement hearing conservation programs and newborn
hearing screening programs
o provide hearing rehabilitation training such as
• auditory training
• speech reading
• listening skills improvement
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Want to Be an Audiologist?
Audiology is a highly recognized profession and has been ranked
by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Best Careers in
2006, 2007, and 2008.
• Audiologists work in a variety of settings, such as:
o Hospitals, clinics, private practice, ENT offices, universities,
K-12 schools, government, military, and VA hospitals.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Over 36 million Americans
Suffer from Hearing Loss!
That is over 4 times
the amount of people living
in New York City!
Over 5 million children and young
adults under the age of 18 suffer
from
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
How We Hear: Outer Ear
The outermost part of the ear is
called the pinna. The pinna acts
like a funnel directing sound
waves into the ear canal.
The sound waves then travel
through the ear canal to the ear
drum.
The sound waves vibrate the
ear drum and the vibrations are
transmitted to the middle ear.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
How We Hear: Middle Ear
The middle ear is made up of the
hammer, anvil, and stirrup bones.
These three bones are the smallest
in the body and are collectively
known as the ossicles.
stirrup
anvil
hammer
The ossicles amplify and transfer
the sound vibrations from the ear
drum to the inner ear.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
How We Hear: Inner Ear
semicircular canals
The inner ear is made up of the
semicircular canals and the
cochlea.
cochlea
Each part of the inner ear is very
different in form and function to the
human body.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Inner Ear: Semicircular Canals
semicircular canals
The semicircular canals are the
portion of the ear that helps detect
movement and maintain balance.
The semicircular canals are filled
with fluid, and as we move, it is that
fluid that allows us to detect the
movement and maintain our
balance.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Inner Ear: The Cochlea
auditory nerve
cochlea
The cochlea houses the organ of
Corti.
As sound vibrations move
through the cochlea, they vibrate
the microscopic hair cells found
within the organ of Corti.
The vibrations of these hair cells
trigger the electrical impulses sent
to the brain from the auditory
nerve, allowing us to hear.
From David J. Lim. Functional Structure of the Organ of
Corti: A Review. Hearing Research, 22 (1986) 117-146
Elsevier
American
Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Conductive Hearing Loss
Mixed Hearing Loss
• The safest way to determine if you have a hearing loss is to
visit your audiologist for a hearing evaluation. An audiologist
can work with you to determine the best treatment option for
your hearing loss.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
•
•
•
•
Is permanent and sometimes preventable.
Is the most common form of hearing loss.
Can affect people of all ages.
A high frequency hearing loss, of this type can indicate aging
and/or noise exposure (Noise-Induced Hearing Loss).
• Does not have any medical or surgical treatment options, in
most cases.
o Hearing aids are the primary treatment (an audiologist
should be your primary health-care provider for testing
and fitting hearing aids).
o A cochlear implant may be considered for patients with
severe or profound cases of this form of hearing loss.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Sensorineural Hearing Loss
• Sensorineural hearing loss
occurs when the
microscopic hair cells within
the organ of Corti are
damaged.
• Once the hair cells are
damaged, they do not
regenerate.
From David J. Lim. Functional Structure of the Organ of
Corti: A Review. Hearing Research, 22 (1986) 117-146
Elsevier
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Do You Have
Sensorineural Hearing Loss?
High-frequency hearing loss may be difficult to
“self-diagnose” because it occurs slowly over time.
People with this form of hearing loss often can still
hear, but they cannot hear clearly.
KNOW THE SIGNS:
•Trouble hearing conversation in a noisy environment such as
restaurants.
•Difficulty or inability to hear people talking to you without looking at
them.
•A constant buzzing or ringing in your ears (tinnitus).
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Conductive Hearing Loss
Happens when the sound waves are not able to
reach the inner ear.
Some causes of conductive
hearing loss are:
• Blockage in the ear canal from:
o Ear wax (cerumen) buildup.
o A foreign object.
• Fluid occupying the middle ear
space, often due to an ear
infection, also called otitis
media.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Mixed Hearing Loss
• Hearing loss that involves both sensorineural and conductive
hearing loss components.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
People with untreated hearing loss
(people with hearing loss who do not wear hearing aids)
can experience a decreased quality of life.
Sadness
Depression
Anxiety
Paranoia
Poor Social Relationships
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Degrees of Hearing Loss
• Audiologists use general terms to characterize the degree of
hearing loss.
o Normal
o Mild
o Moderate
o Severe
o Profound
• The category of hearing loss represents the softest level of
sound (decibels) you can hear at different pitches.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
The Hearing Evaluation
Audiologists perform a hearing evaluation to determine
the type and severity of the hearing problem.
There are three parts to a hearing evaluation:
• Review of your medical and hearing history.
• Visual examination of the eardrums and ear canals.
• Testing the hearing.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
The Hearing Test
An audiologist will place you in
a sound booth to test your
hearing at different pitches
(frequency) and decibel levels.
• You will be asked to listen to
a series of specific sounds
and indicate which ones
you hear.
• The results are noted on an
audiogram that your
audiologist will review with
you.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Protecting your hearing is just as
important as protecting your
eyes or teeth.
Tips to help protect you hearing:
• Wear hearing protection in noisy environments (marching
band, concerts, sporting events, industrial classes…)
o Ear plugs
• Take breaks from noisy environments, walk away from the
noise and give your ears a break.
• Turn down the volume on your car stereos, MP3 players, and
home stereos.
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org
Do you or someone you know
have a hearing problem?
Do you want to learn more
about a career in audiology?
Visit www.HowsYourHearing.org
to find an audiologist near you.
Questions???
American Academy of Audiology | HowsYourHearing.org