| American Sign Language (ASL) |
A language expressed through movements of the hands and face often used by an individual who is Deaf or hard of hearing. ASL serves as the predominant language of deaf communities.
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| Amplification |
The process of increasing the volume of sound. In the case of hearing aids, the purpose is to amplify sounds to make them louder.
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| Atresia |
Atresia (also known as aural atresia) is the absence or closure of the external auditory ear canal.
Ear Community-Atresia
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| Audiogram |
A graphic presentation that shows the softest sounds a person can hear at different pitches or frequencies. The closer the marks are to the top of the graph, the softer the sounds that person can hear. Where the patient's results fall on the audiogram indicate the different degrees of hearing loss.
What is an Audiogram?
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| Audiologist |
A hearing healthcare professional that focuses on conditions of the ear, including hearing status, ringing or buzzing noises in the ear, and balance problems. Audiologists will test and diagnose an individual's hearing ability, review communication options, dispense and fit hearing aids, map cochlear and bone-anchored hearing implants.
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| Audiology Evaluation |
Various tests conducted by an audiologist to determine a person's hearing status.
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| Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) |
A test which measures the brain's responses to sound. An audiologist places small earphones in the child's ears and soft electrodes (small sensor stickers) near the ears and on the forehead. Clicking sounds and tones go through the earphones, and the electrodes measure how the hearing nerves and brain respond to the sounds. During the test, the baby needs to be asleep so the responses can be detected.
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| Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) |
Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder (ANSD) is a hearing problem in which the ear detects sound normally, but there is a problem sending the sound to the brain.
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| Bilateral Hearing Loss |
Hearing loss in both ears.
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| Bone Anchored Hearing Aid |
A hearing aid in which an amplified signal directly stimulates the inner ear via a bone vibrator placed on the mastoid bone behind the ear. This technology is typically used for individuals with aural atresia or chronic ear drainage.
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| Behavioral Observation Audiometry (BOA) |
A test used to observe hearing behavior to sound. BOA is typically used with infants less than six months of age who are not developmentally able to turn their head towards a sound or reliably respond to sound.
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| Behavioral Audiometry Evaluation (BAE) |
A hearing test to find out how a person responds to various sounds. The person being tested must be awake and actively respond to sounds they hear.
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| Brainstem-Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) |
A test to understand the transmission of electrical waves from the 8th cranial nerve to the brainstem, in response to click sounds given through the ear.
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| Binaural |
Having two ears.
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| Cochlea |
Snail-shaped structure of the inner ear that is the sensory organ of hearing. It produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.
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| Cochlear Implant (CI) |
An electronic device that stimulates or sends sounds directly to the auditory (hearing) nerve. It does not amplify sound. It may be an option for children with a hearing status of severe to profound. The device has two parts. One part is surgically placed inside the inner ear (cochlea) and the other part of the device is worn outside the ear following surgery.
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| Conditioned Play Audiometry (CPA) |
A test where the pediatric audiologist teaches the child to respond when a sound is heard by playing a game. Example: a child is instructed to put a peg in a hole or block in a bucket every time they hear a sound.
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| Conductive Hearing Loss |
A type of hearing loss caused by something that stops sounds from getting through the outer or middle ear. Common cause is middle ear fluid or infection. Other causes include wax buildup in the ear canal, a hole in the eardrum, or damage to the tiny bones of the middle ear. This can often be treated with medicine or surgery (often referred to as "getting tubes").
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| Deaf |
A term used to describe people with total or partial hearing loss.
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| Deaf/Hard of hearing Guide |
A program of Hands & Voices, Guide By Your Side (GBYS) – D/HH Guides are a diverse group of D/HH adults who compliment the work of Parent Guides by working alongside them. D/ HH Guides share with children and families their unique life experiences, use of technology, how they navigate social situations, how they developed their personal identity, etc. D/HH Guides undergo the similar training as Hands & Voices Parent Guides and all Guides are under the supervision of a local GBYS Coordinator as well as provided opportunities for ongoing training and networking through Hands & Voices Headquarters.
Hands & Voices Deaf/Hard of Hearing Guides
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| Deaf Mentor |
An adult who is deaf and fluent in American Sign Language that provides family-centered support to families of younger children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This individual often provides ASL instruction and helps families gain an understanding of Deaf culture and daily life as a deaf or hard of hearing adult.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Guidelines
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| Deaf/Hard of Hearing Role Model |
An adult who is deaf or hard of hearing that provides family-centered support to families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. They provide insight into life experiences as an adult who is deaf or hard of hearing. In their position as an Adult Role Model, they do not teach ASL. They may communicate with a family by listening or Spoken Language, Cued Speech/Cued English, or American Sign Language.
Hands & Voices Information about Role Models
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| Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) |
Refers to the practice of screening every newborn for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge. Infants not passing the screening should receive a diagnostic hearing test no later than three months of age and, if the hearing status is not determined to be typical hearing, the infant should be enrolled in early intervention programs no later than six months of age.
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| EHDI State Program |
Every state and territory in the United States has established an EHDI program. The EHDI program staff are responsible for creating, operating, and continuously improving a system of services and supports for children if the hearing status is not determined to be typical hearing.
State/Territory EHDI Programs
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| Early Intervention (EI) |
A term used to describe the services and supports that are available to babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. May include speech therapy, physical therapy, and other types of services based on the needs of the child and family.
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| Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) |
A doctor trained in the medical and surgical treatment of adults and children with diseases and disorders of the ear, nose and throat. May also be referred to as an Otolaryngologist.
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| Genetics |
The study of how different qualities, called traits, are passed down from parents to children. Genetics helps explain what makes you unique, why family members look alike, and why some diseases or conditions run in families.
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| Hard of hearing |
A term used to describe individuals with a hearing status ranging from mild to severe. These individuals often have some hearing and can understand spoken language in some situations, with or without amplification.
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| Hearing Aid |
A battery-powered device designed to improve hearing. The device will amplify or make sounds louder.
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| Hearing Difference |
Term used to describe an individual with any degree of hearing loss, from mild to profound, including those who identify as being deaf or hard of hearing.
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| Hearing impaired |
A term used to describe an individual with any degree of hearing loss, from mild to profound, including those who identify as being deaf or hard of hearing.
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| Hearing Loss |
A person who is not able to hear as well as someone with normal hearing – hearing thresholds of 20 dB or better in both ears – is said to have hearing loss. Hearing loss may be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. It can affect one ear or both ears, and leads to difficulty in hearing conversational speech or loud sounds.
Hearing Loss Definition
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| Hearing Screening |
Hearing Screening: is conducted to identify children who may have a hearing loss and need further testing. All newborns receive hearing screening at birth. There are two screening methods used; Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (A-ABR). Both methods are quick and simple methods that don't require a behavioral response.
Screening and Diagnosis of Hearing Loss
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| Hearing Test |
Measurement of a person's hearing across the full range of speech. The test will measure the quietest sound that can be heard at several points across the speech range – often referred to as an audiogram.
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| Hearing Thresholds |
Minimum sound level that an average human ear can hear with no other sound present.
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| Medical Home |
The National Resource Center for Patient/Family-Centered Medical Home, a national technical assistance center focused on improving the health and well-being of, and strengthening the system of services for, children and youth with special health care needs and their families by enhancing the patient/family-centered medical home.
Medical Home Info
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| Microtia |
Microtia is a congenital deformity in which the outer ear (pinna) does not fully develop during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Ear Community - Microtia
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| Mixed Hearing Loss |
A combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss in which a problem exists in the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear or auditory nerve.
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| Neurotologist |
Neurotology is a division of Otology that not only deals with the ear but also those portions of the brain that are important for hearing and balance.
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| Ophthalmologist |
A doctor that specializes in eye or vision care.
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| Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) |
A small probe is placed in the child's ear canal which sends soft sounds into the ear. The sound travels through the outer and middle ear to the cochlea. The cochlea responds to the sounds by producing an otoacoustic emission, sometimes described as an “echo,” that travels back through the middle ear to the ear canal and is analyzed by the screening unit.
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| Otolaryngologist |
An ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor.
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| Risk Factors for hearing loss |
There are babies born with certain medical issues, have medical treatments, physical malformations or other pre-existing conditions that put them at risk for hearing loss at birth or for developing a hearing loss in early childhood.
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| Sensorineural Hearing Loss |
Hearing loss that occurs when there is inner ear damage or a problem with the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain.
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| Types of hearing loss |
The types of hearing loss include; conductive, sensorineural and mixed hearing loss.
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| Unilateral Hearing Loss |
A hearing loss that is present in one ear versus both ears.
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| Visual Reinforcement Audiometry (VRA) |
A hearing test procedure where a child's responses to sound are reinforced with a visual event. VRA allows the pediatric audiologist to assess hearing in infants and toddlers who are too young to reliably respond to normal behavioral tests.
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