ABR/Auditory Brainstem Response

A non-invasive test that measures the response of the auditory nerve and brainstem auditory centres to auditory stimuli.  This test can indicate whether or not a sound is being detected, even in an infant

Acquired Hearing Loss

A hearing loss of non genetic origin that develops after birth

Amplification

The use of hearing aids and other electronic devices to increase the loudness and clarity of sounds so that they may be more easily received and understood

Asphyxia

Too little oxygen and too much carbon dioxide in the blood, causing baby to suffocate

Audiogram

A graph on which a person’s ability to hear different pitches (frequencies) at different volumes (intensities) of sound is recorded

Audiologist

An audiologist is a university-trained professional who is specially qualified to measure hearing, diagnose and advise on the management of hearing disorders, and supply and fit hearing aids and other hearing devices to suit individual needs

Auditory Nerve

The nerve that conveys information from the hearing organ in the inner ear to the central nervous system.  It is part of the VIII cranial nerve (Vestibulocochlea nerve). The other part is the vestibular nerve which comes from the vestibular or balance organs

Auditory System

The anatomical system that transfers energy from sound waves to neural activity for processing by the auditory centres in the brain. The auditory system consists of the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, and the central auditory pathways

Basilar Membrane

Membrane inside the cochlea that vibrates in response to sound

Bilateral

A hearing loss in both ears

Bone Conduction

Sound conducted through the skull

Central Auditory Pathways

The neural pathways that start at the VIIIth cranial nerve (auditory nerve) and travel via a number of centres in the brainstem and mid brain to the auditory cortex

Cerumen

The waxy secretion found within the ear canal

Cleft Lip

A congenital craniofacial abnormality resulting in a split (cleft) in the lip; frequently associated with a cleft palate

Cleft Palate

A congenital craniofacial abnormality resulting in a split (cleft) in the palate; frequently associated with a cleft lip

Cochlea

 The spiral-shaped bony structure of the inner ear that contains the sensory cells that are responsible for detecting sound and stimulating the auditory nerve

Cochlea Implant

 An implanted electronic device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve to send signals to the brain

Conductive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by interference with sound transmission through the external canal, middle ear, or ossicles to the inner ear

Congenital

Occurring before, at, or shortly after birth

Congenital Atresia

A type of birth defect causing a complete closure of the ear canal

Coverage

The proportion of the potential target population who participate in the screening programme. (NHC)

Craniofacial Abnormality

An abnormality of the head or face; i.e. Cleft palate

Decibel (dB)

One-tenth of a bel; unit for expressing the relative loudness or intensity of sound on a logarithmic scale

Decibel Hearing Level (dBHL)

The sensitivity of  hearing  in decibels, relative to normative data from adults

Eardrum

A fine membrane (tympanic membrane) at the end of the ear canal that separates the outer ear from the middle ear

False Negative 

A negative screening test in a person who does have the condition being screened for. (NHC)

False Positive

A positive screening test in a person who does not have the condition being screened for. (NHC)        

Frequency

The number of vibrations or sound waves per second of a sound. Frequency, expressed in Hertz (Hz), determines the pitch of the sound

Genetic Counselling

The provision of genetic information to individuals and families with birth abnormalities/genetic disorders, including recurrent risk information

Glue Ear

 A colloquial term for Otitis media with effusion (OME), in which the middle ear is inflamed and filled with thick mucoid effusion

Hair Cells

Auditory sensory cells in the hearing sensory organ that sits on the basilar membrane. There are two types the outer (OHC) and inner hair cells (IHC)

Inner Ear

The most interior portion of the ear, made up of two interconnected parts: the vestibular system, a balance organ and the cochlea, a hearing organ

Intensity

The magnitude of sound energy, measured in decibels

Jaundice

Yellowing of the skin (and whites of eyes) by bilirubin, a bile pigment

Late Onset Hearing Loss

Hearing loss not present at birth, which developes during early childhood: see Risk Factors

Middle Ear

That part of the ear that conducts sound to the inner ear, consisting of the eardrum (tympanic membrane), middle ear bones (ossicles), and the cavity containing them

Missed Baby

In screening the baby was missed, typically due to early discharge

Opportunistic Screening

The key feature that distinguishes opportunistic screening from screening programmes is the lack of quality process, including routine monitoring and evaluation.  Opportunistic screening usually occurs when a person who is presenting to the health system for another reason is asked a question or offered a test in order to detect the presence or confirm the absence of a specific condition.  Opportunistic screening may be organised to a greater or lesser degree.  However, because there are no attendant quality processes, its safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness cannot be assessed and guaranteed. (NHC)

Ossicles

The three small bones within the middle ear. Malleus (Hammer), Incus (Anvil), Stapes (Stirrup)

Otitis Media

Acute or chronic inflammation of the tissues lining the middle ear cavity.  Fluid (effusion) is present with or without infection in the middle ear and may cause temporary hearing impairment, which can evolve into permenant impairment if there is erosion of the middle ear structures.  Children with recurring episodes of otitis media may experience fluctuating hearing impairment and may be at risk for speech and language delays

Otologist

A physician who specializes in medical problems of the ear

Otorhinolaryngologist

 A physician who specializes in medical problems of the ear, nose and throat

Ototoxic Drugs

Drugs, such as the mycin antibiotics, that can damage the inner ear, particularly the hair cells in the cochlea

Outer Ear

The part of the ear composed of the pinna and the ear canal

Population-based Screening Programme

A population-based screening programme is one in which screening is systematically offered by invitation to a defined, identifiable population: this requires a means of identifying and offering the target population, for example through a population register. (NHC)

Population Screening Programmes

Population screening programmes involve screening entire populations or a large and easily identifiable group within the population.  The target population group for screening may be defined geographically or by some other characteristic such as gender, age or ethnicity.  The New Zealand Cervical and breast screening programmes are examples of population screening programmes. (NHC)

Progressive Hearing Loss

Hearing loss that becomes increasingly worse over time

Quality Assessment

Performance measurements against standards, and investment in selection and training of professionals.(NHC)

Quaility Assurance

Detection of problems through external or internal inspection, and their correction through systematicactivity(NHC)

Quality Improvement

Prevention of problems and control of unintended variations in process through total quality management.(NHC)

Refer

A screening result which indicates the need for further testing

Residual Hearing

Any measurable hearing that an individual with hearing loss retains

Risk Factors

Known conditions, syndromes, family history and medications that increase the risk of congenital, late onset and progressive hearing Loss

Screening

Screening is a health service in which members of a defined population, who do not necessarily perceive they are at risk of, or are already affected by, a disease or its complications, are asked a question or offered a test to identify those individuals who are more likely to be helped than harmed by further tests or treatments to reduce the risk of disease or its complications(NHC)

Screening Pathway

This is the screening process from a participant’s perspective (NHC)  

Sensitivity

The proportion of people in the screened population who have the condition in question and who are correctly identified (by the screening test) as having the condition (NHC)

Sensorineural

Hearing Loss caused by the damage to the cochlea and or the hearing nerve

Specificity

The proportion of people in the screened population who do not have the condition in question and who are correctly identified (by the screening test) as not having the condition (NHC)

Syndrome

A collection of symptoms that characterize a specific disease or condition

Targeted Follow up

Continued monitoring of an infant known to be at increased risk of hearing loss, see also risk factors

TORCH

A group of infections with similar clinical manifestations, although symptoms may vary in degree and time of appearance: toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus infection, and herpes simplex. These infections might be associated with underlying HIV infection

Tympanic Membrane

Eardrum, separates the outer ear from the middle ear

Tympanogram

A graph of the middle ear function carried out using tympanometry

Unilateral Hearing Loss

Hearing loss present in only one ear

Vernix

The oily substance that protects and covers the skin of a newborn