About Us | Privacy | Site Map
June 18, 2013


Hearing Loss Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Hearing Loss article.

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

See the entire definition of Acetaminophen

Acoustic: Having to do with sound or hearing. The acoustic nerve (the 8th cranial nerve) i...

See the entire definition of Acoustic

Acoustic neuroma: A benign tumor that may develop on the hearing and balance nerves near t...

See the entire definition of Acoustic neuroma

Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environ...

See the entire definition of Aging

Anatomy: The study of human or animal form, by observation or examination of the living be...

See the entire definition of Anatomy

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

See the entire definition of Antibiotic

Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction by bl...

See the entire definition of Antihistamines

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

See the entire definition of Aspirin

Barotrauma: Trauma caused by rapid or extreme changes in air pressure, especially affectin...

See the entire definition of Barotrauma

Bilateral: Affecting both sides. For example, bilateral arthritis affects joints on both t...

See the entire definition of Bilateral

Blast: An immature blood cell.

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

See the entire definition of Brain

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

See the entire definition of Cancer

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

See the entire definition of Cell

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The US agency charged with tracking and invest...

See the entire definition of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention back to top

Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

See the entire definition of Circulation

Cochlea: The cochlea is the part of the inner ear that converts mechanical energy (vibrati...

See the entire definition of Cochlea

Cochlear: Pertaining to the cochlea, the organ of hearing.

Cochlear implant: A device that is surgically placed (implanted) within the inner ear to h...

See the entire definition of Cochlear implant

CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a...

See the entire definition of CT scan

Deafness: Partial or complete hearing loss. Levels of hearing impairment vary from a mild ...

See the entire definition of Deafness

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

See the entire definition of Diabetes

Drain: A device for removing fluid from a cavity or wound. A drain is typically a tube or ...

See the entire definition of Drain

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

See the entire definition of Ear

Ear tubes: Formally known as tympanostomy tubes, ear tubes are small tubes, made of severa...

See the entire definition of Ear tubes

Earache: Pain in the ear. This can occur because of conditions within the ear itself, the ...

See the entire definition of Earache

Eardrum: The tympanic membrane of the ear, or tympanum. The eardrum separates the middle e...

See the entire definition of Eardrum

Effusion: Too much fluid, an outpouring of fluid. For example, a pleural effusion is an ab...

See the entire definition of Effusion

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

See the entire definition of Emergency department

ENT: 1. Abbreviation for ears, nose and throat. A field of medicine also called ot...

See the entire definition of ENT back to top

External ear: There are three sections of the ear. They are the external ear, the middle ...

See the entire definition of External ear

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

See the entire definition of Fever

Forceps: An instrument that has two blades and a handle and is used for handling, grasping...

See the entire definition of Forceps

Fracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually a result of trauma, a fracture ca...

See the entire definition of Fracture

Graft: Healthy skin, bone, kidney, liver, or other tissue that is taken from one part of t...

See the entire definition of Graft

Hematoma: A localized swelling that is filled with blood caused by a break in the wall of ...

See the entire definition of Hematoma

Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to infection with one of the human herpesv...

See the entire definition of Herpes

Herpes zoster: Also called shingles, zona, and zoster. The culprit is the varicella-zoster...

See the entire definition of Herpes zoster

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

See the entire definition of Ibuprofen

Implant: 1. To embed; to set in firmly. In embryology, the fertilized egg implants ...

See the entire definition of Implant

Incus: One of the three tiny bones in the middle ear. Sound impulses coming from the eardr...

See the entire definition of Incus

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

See the entire definition of Indicate

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

See the entire definition of Infection

Influenza: The flu is caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract which are divide...

See the entire definition of Influenza

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

See the entire definition of Injury back to top

Inner ear: A highly complex structure whose essential component for hearing is the membran...

See the entire definition of Inner ear

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

See the entire definition of Kidney

Leukemia: Cancer of the blood cells. Strictly speaking, leukemia should refer only to canc...

See the entire definition of Leukemia

Malleus: A tiny bone in the middle ear that is shaped like a minute mallet.

Measles: An acute and highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, runny nose,...

See the entire definition of Measles

Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a 'surface.

Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes that envelop the brain and t...

See the entire definition of Meningitis

Middle ear: A part of the ear that consists of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and, beyond...

See the entire definition of Middle ear

Mononucleosis: Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, human herpesvirus 4, HHV-4) in...

See the entire definition of Mononucleosis

Motion sickness: A disorder of the sense of balance and equilibrium and, hence, the sense ...

See the entire definition of Motion sickness

Mumps: An acute (sudden, shortlived) viral illness that usually presents with inflammation...

See the entire definition of Mumps

Nasopharynx: The area of the upper throat that lies behind the nose. In contrast to the or...

See the entire definition of Nasopharynx

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

See the entire definition of Nerve

Neurological: Having to do with the nerves or the nervous system as, for example, a neurol...

See the entire definition of Neurological

Neuroma: A benign tumor that arises from a nerve as, for example, an acoustic glioma or op...

See the entire definition of Neuroma back to top

Neurosurgeon: A physician who specializes in surgery on the brain and other parts of the n...

See the entire definition of Neurosurgeon

Nicotinic acid: Deficiency of nicotinic acid (also known as niacin), one of the B-complex ...

See the entire definition of Nicotinic acid

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

See the entire definition of Nose

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

See the entire definition of Obstruction

Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the signs or symptoms of an illness as, for ex...

See the entire definition of Onset

Ossicle: Any small bone, such as the tiny bones within the human ear.

Otitis: Inflammation of the ear. Depending upon which part of the ear is inflammed, there ...

See the entire definition of Otitis

Otitis externa: Infection of the skin covering the outer ear canal that leads in to the ea...

See the entire definition of Otitis externa

Otitis media: Inflammation of the middle ear characterized by the accumulation of infected...

See the entire definition of Otitis media

Otolaryngologist: A physician specialized in diagnosing and treating diseases of the head ...

See the entire definition of Otolaryngologist

Otoscope: An instrument for looking in the ear.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

See the entire definition of Pain

Palate: The roof of the mouth. The front portion is bony (hard palate), and the back porti...

See the entire definition of Palate

Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

See the entire definition of Pediatrics

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

See the entire definition of Pharmacy back to top

Polycythemia: Too many red blood cells. The opposite of anemia. polycythemia formally exis...

See the entire definition of Polycythemia

Presbycusis: Age-related hearing loss with gradually progressive inability to hear, especi...

See the entire definition of Presbycusis

Probe: (1) In surgery, a probe is a slender flexible rod with a blunt end used to e...

See the entire definition of Probe

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

See the entire definition of Referral

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Ringing in the ears: Medically called tinnitus, can be due to many causes including ear in...

See the entire definition of Ringing in the ears

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

See the entire definition of Scan

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

See the entire definition of Sensation

Sickle cell disease: A genetic blood disorder caused by the presence of an abnormal form ...

See the entire definition of Sickle cell disease

Skin graft: Skin used to cover an area where the patient's skin has been lost due to a bur...

See the entire definition of Skin graft

Skull: The skull is a collection of bones which encase the brain and give form to the hea...

See the entire definition of Skull

Soft palate: The muscular part of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is directly behin...

See the entire definition of Soft palate

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

See the entire definition of Spinal cord

Stapes: A stirrup-shaped bone in the middle ear. The stapes transmits sound vibrations fro...

See the entire definition of Stapes

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

See the entire definition of Surgeon back to top

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

See the entire definition of Surgery

Syphilis: A sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum, a microscopic orga...

See the entire definition of Syphilis

Temporal: 1. Pertaining to time, limited in time, temporary, or transient.
...

See the entire definition of Temporal

Temporal bone: A large irregular bone that is situated at the base and side of the skull. ...

See the entire definition of Temporal bone

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

See the entire definition of Throat

Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears. Tinnitus has many causes, including some medications (inclu...

See the entire definition of Tinnitus

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

See the entire definition of Tubes

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

See the entire definition of Tumor

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Tympanic: 1. Pertaining to the tympanum (the eardrum).
2. Pertaining t...

See the entire definition of Tympanic

Tympanic membrane: The eardrum, a thin membrane that serves as a partition between the ext...

See the entire definition of Tympanic membrane

Tympanometry: A test that measures the function of the middle ear. Tympanometry works by v...

See the entire definition of Tympanometry

Unilateral: Having, or relating to, one side. For example, a unilateral rash is one that i...

See the entire definition of Unilateral

Vascular: Relating to blood vessels. For example, the vascular system in the body includes...

See the entire definition of Vascular back to top

Vertigo: Aside from being the name of a classic 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film (with Jimmy St...

See the entire definition of Vertigo back to top


Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Please acknowledge your agreement





Medical Dictionary


Use Pill Finder Find it Now

Pill Identifier on RxList

  • quick, easy,
    pill identification

Find a Local Pharmacy

  • including 24 hour, pharmacies