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Glossary
This glossary provides a general reference for frequently used audiological terms that may be helpful to you when searching the American Tinnitus Association website and reading reports from ATA-funded researchers.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Acoustic Neuroma- A noncancerous (benign), often slow-growing tumor of the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. It is located behind the ear, under the brain.
Acoustic Startle Reflex- Startle or quick response to a loud noise.
Acoustic Trauma- Rare condition where a single loud blast or explosion results in permanent sensorineural (inner ear) hearing loss.
Agonist- A drug that can combine with receptors in the nervous system that cause a particular action to take place.
Aminoglycoside- A class of antibiotics used to treat serious bacterial infections. This class of drugs is generally very ototoxic.
Amplitude- The strength or volume of an acoustic or electromagnetic signal, usually measured in decibels.
Amygdala- A limbic system structure involved in many of our emotions and motivations, particularly those that are related to survival.
Anodal- A positively charged electrode.
Antagonist- A drug that blocks or works against the action of another drug or prevents a particular body action from taking place.
Animal Model of Tinnitus- An animal, usually a rodent, that has been trained to demonstrate a recognizable behavior when it is hearing tinnitus. A tinnitus animal model helps scientists learn where tinnitus comes from, how it progresses, or how well a treatment works. (also known as Behavioral Model of Tinnitus)
Attentuation- Amount of reduction in noise level, such as that provided by use of a hearing protector or other obstruction such as a wall.
Audiogram- A graphic representation of the relation of vibration frequency that shows the softest sounds a person can hear at different pitches or frequencies.
Audiologist- A health care professional trained to evaluate hearing loss and related disorders, including balance (vestibular) disorders and tinnitus, and to rehabilitate people with hearing loss and related disorders. Audiologists use a variety of tests and procedures to assess hearing and balance function and to fit and dispense hearing aids and other assistive devices for hearing loss. Most audiologists have advanced doctorate degrees.
Audiometer- The electronic instrument used by the audiologist for measuring the threshold of hearing.
Audiometric Evaluation (AE)- Term used to describe a diagnostic hearing test, performed by a licensed audiologist. An AE is not just pressing the button when you hear a "beep". Rather, an audiometric evaluation allows the audiologist to determine the type and degree of your hearing loss, and it tells the audiologist how well or how poorly you understand speech. The AE also includes a thorough case history (interview) as well as visual inspection of the ear canals and eardrum.
Auditory- Of or relating to hearing, the organs of hearing, or the sense of hearing.
Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Test- Also called Brainstem Evoked Response (BSER), Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER), and Auditory Evoked Response (AER), this test objectively measures hearing by placing electrodes on the scalp to record the electrical activity in the brain when sound occurs. It is used for newborn babies, infants, and young children who cannot respond reliably using standard procedures such as visual reinforcement audiometry, play audiometry, or picture identification.
Auditory Cortex- The highest level of the brain that receives inputs from the lower auditory regions of the brain, including the inner ear, and interprets the neural activity from these lower regions into sound.
Auditory Deafferentation- Elimination or interruption of sensory nerve impulses by destroying or injuring the sensory nerve fibers.
Auditory Nerve- The nerve that connects the cochlea (inner ear) to the cochlear nuclei- first stage of the auditory brain. It consists of the cochlear and vestibular nerves, and is responsible for hearing and balance. Also known as the eighth cranial nerve.
Auditory Neuropathy- A hearing disorder in which sound enters the inner ear normally but the transmission of signals from the inner ear to the brain is impaired. It can affect people of all ages, from infancy through adulthood. The number of people affected by auditory neuropathy is not known, but the condition affects a relatively small percentage of people who are deaf or hearing-impaired.
Auditory Perception- The ability to identify, interpret, and attach meaning to sound.
Auditory Prosthesis - Device that substitutes or enhances the ability to hear.
Auditory System- The outer, middle, and inner ear, and the parts of the brain related to hearing.
Aural- Having to do with the ear or hearing.
Barotrauma- Injury to the middle ear caused by a reduction or change of air or water pressure.
Basal Measures- Measurements of vital organism activities, such as heartbeat and respiration.
Bilateral Hearing Loss- Hearing loss in both ears.
Bilateral Tinnitus- Tinnitus that affects both the right and left ears.
Binaural- Perception of sound with both ears; transmission of sound from two sources.
Biofeedback- A method of relaxation that allows the patient to control his or her own heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and muscle tension. Often used as an adjunct to other tinnitus treatments.
Brainstem- The stem-like part of the brain connected to the spinal cord; manages messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
Cathodal- A negatively charged electrode.
Central Auditory Processing Disorder- Inability to differentiate, recognize, or understand sounds; hearing and intelligence are normal.
Central Nervous System (CNS)- Part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord, coordinates activity throughout the body.
Cerebral Cortex- Outermost layer of the brain, largely responsible for higher brain functions, including sensation, voluntary muscle movement, thought and reasoning and memory.
Cerumen- Medical term for ear wax, a yellow secretion from glands in the outer ear that keeps the skin of the ear dry and protected from infection.
Ceruminosis- Excessive ear wax.
Chelator- A molecule that binds a metal ion to itself. This can be used to remove an ion from participation in biological processes.
Cholesteatoma- A non-cancerous tumor in the middle ear largely composed of skin cells.
Clinical Masking- A product that produces a broad bandwidth of sound (usually 3,000 to 12,000 Hz) that encompasses the frequency and volume of the tinnitus. The neutral masker sound is generally a more acceptable sound than the tinnitus. Success with masking is based in the observed phenomenon that non-threatening external sound can bring relief to the tinnitus ear.
Cochlea- The spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that contains hair cells.
Cochlear Implant- Medical device that bypasses damaged structures in the inner ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, allowing some deaf individuals to learn to hear and interpret sounds and speech.
Cochlear Lesions- Pathological or traumatic discontinuity of the cochlea or loss of function of the cochlea.
Cochlear Nucleus- A collection of neurons in the brainstem divided into the dorsal and
ventral cochlear nucleus, that receive input from the cochlear nerve that carries sound information from the cochlea.
Cognition- Thinking skills that include perception, memory, awareness, reasoning, judgment, intellect, and imagination.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Attempts to solve emotional, behavioral or thought disorders through a psychotherapeutic approach.
Conductive Hearing Impairment- Hearing loss caused by dysfunction of the outer or middle ear.
Contralateral- On the opposite side.
Cortical Hubs- Complex network of fibers bundles; thought to play pivotal roles in the coordination of information flow and processing.
Cortical Map Reorganization- The ability of neurons to regroup themselves after an event
that changes their path.
Cortical Synchronization- The rallying of groups of neurons in varying regions of the brain, to engage in coordinated activity.
Cross-sectional Survey- A study in which a statistically significant sample of a population is used to estimate the relationship between the results of the study and the various characteristics of the population studied at a certain point in time.
Decibel (dB)- Unit that measures the intensity or loudness of sound.
Decibel A-Weighted (dBA)- A unit of noise measurement designed to approximate the response of the human ear to moderate sound pressure levels.
Decibel C-Weighted (dBC)- A unit of noise measurement designed to approximate the response of the human ear to high sound pressure levels.
Dopamine- Neurotransmitter (chemical) formed in the brain; released by neurons to stimulate neighboring neurons to successfully pass impulses from one cell to the next through CNS.
Dopamine Agonist- A compound that activates dopamine receptors in the absence of dopamine.
Dorsal Cochlear Nucleus (DCN)- One of the first “relay stations” between the cochlea and the brain. The DCN receives and processes nerve impulses from the ear and sends the processed signals to higher relay centers in the brain. When these impulses reach the auditory cortex, they are interpreted as sounds.
Dosimeter- Specialized sound level meter that measures noise exposure (in DBA) over time and integrates the total exposures so that the result is representative of the risk.
Ear Infection- Presence and growth of bacteria or viruses in the ear.
Ear Wax- Also known as cerumen, a yellow secretion from glands in the outer ear (cerumen) that keeps the skin of the ear dry and protected from infection.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)- Test that measures and records electrical brain activity.
Epidural Region- The outermost part of the spinal cord.
Epidural Electric Stimulation- Treatment involving implanted electrodes in the epidural region of the body.
Etiology- The cause or causes of a disease or abnormal condition; a branch of medical science dealing with the causes and origins of diseases.
Eustachian Tube- The air duct which connects the nasopharynx (back of the throat) with the middle ear; usually closed at one end, opens with yawning and swallowing; allows ventilation of the middle ear cavity and equalization of pressure on two sides of the eardrum.
Evoked Potential (EP)- Measurement of the voltage produced by cells in the brain in response to sound.
Exchange Rate- Number of decibels that a noise level is increased when the exposure level has been doubled; a 3 dB exchange rate means that for each 3 dB increase in noise level, the exposure level has been doubled.
fMRI- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Unlike an MRI, which can only record the physical appearance of the brain, an fMRI records brain activity. An fMRI scan can show the region of the brain where there is a change in neural activity associated with an external event (e.g., sound) or internal process (e.g., tinnitus).
fMRI Auditory Block-Design Localizer- Measured, specific brain activation in response to various types of auditory stimulation sequences, such as tonal and human and animal vocalizations.
Free Radicals- An atom or molecule having at least one unpaired electron. Hair cells in your inner ears are particularly susceptible to damage by free radicals.
Frequency- The number of times a repetitive event occurs in a specified time period is a frequency. This is expressed in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz). A common word for frequency is pitch.
Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA)- Inhibitory neurotransmitter (chemical) in the brain that contributed to motor control, vision and other cortical functions; helps induce relaxation and sleep and balances the brain by inhibiting over-excitation.
Gap Detection- Introduction of two stimuli (e.g., tones, clicks, broad band noise) of some duration with a variable gap between them, gap detection “threshold” is when the gap is sufficiently wide for the patient to detect two sounds.
Global Networks- Regions of the brain involved in auditory and non-auditory processing; core network structures include the prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and parieto-occipital region.
Glutamate- Vital neurotransmitter in communication between nerve cells, making them more likely to send on a signal; excessive glutamate production, caused by stressed, loud noise or ototoxic chemicals, is thought to play a key role in the development of tinnitus.
Habituation- Process by which repeated and harmless stimulation leads to less and less perception and reaction.
Habituation-Based Therapy- Any number of therapies, like Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, directed at using habituation to minimize the troubling effects of tinnitus and/or hyperacusis.
Hair Cells- Tiny sensory cells that convert sound vibrations into neural activity. These sensory hair cells are arranged in orderly rows lining the organ of Corti inside the cochlea. These cells have hair-like stereocilia that stick out of the top, giving them their name.
Hearing- Series of events in which sound waves in the air are converted to electrical signals, which are sent as nerve impulses to the brain, where they are interpreted.
Hearing Disorder- Disruption in the normal hearing process that may occur in outer, middle, or inner ear, whereby sound waves are not converted to electrical signals and nerve impulses are not transmitted to the brain to be interpreted.
Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE)- A self-assessment tool is designed to assess the effects of hearing impairment on the emotional and social adjustment of elderly people. The inventory is comprised of two subscales: a 13-item subscale explores the emotional consequences of hearing impairment; a 12-item subscale explores both social and situational effects.
Hearing Loss Prevention Act (1983)- Promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), this piece of legislation sets a maximum allowable noise dose to protect a large percentage of people; however, these regulations set only minimum safety standards, only apply to the occupational setting, and per OSHA admittedly do not protect a significant subset of the population.
Hearing Protection Device (HPD)- Collectively, devices that are worn on, over, or in the ears to attentuate sound in an effort to minimize its potential damaging effect on hearing.
Hearing Threshold- The quietest sound audible 50% of the time when a person in undergoing a hearing test.
Hereditary Hearing Impairment- Hearing loss passed down through generations of a family.
Hertz (Hz)- The unit measurement of frequency (pitch) of sound, the number of cycles of a sound wave in one second (cycles per second) is more commonly specified in hertz (Hz). High-pitched sounds, such as a police whistle, have a high frequency with thousands of cycles per second. Low-pitched sounds, such as far away thunder, have a low frequency with only a few cycles per second.
Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons- Multipolar sensory neurons located in the hippocampus region of the brain.
Hippocampus- An area deep in the forebrain that helps regulate emotion and memory.
Hyperactivity- An abnormal increase in brain activity.
Hyperacusis- Abnormally reduced tolerance to sound; a symptom where sound that is not especially loud, and not bothersome to other people, seems overwhelming, intense or even painful.
Hypermonitoring- The discrepancy that exists between how loud a patient subjectively
perceives their tinnitus and how loud it is objectively measured.
Hypothesis- A tentative statement that proposes a possible explanation to some phenomenon or event.
Inferior Colliculus (IC)- Principal midbrain nucleaus of the auditory pathway; receives input from several more peripheral brainstem nuclei in this pathway and the auditory cortex.
Inhibition- Opposing or restraining the excitation of neurons or their target excitable cells.
Inner Ear- Part of the ear that contains both the organ of hearing (the cochlea) and the organ of balance (the labyrinth).
Intracranial Hypertension- A condition where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inside the skull reaches elevated levels.
Ipsilateral- Located on or affecting the same side.
Labyrinth- A complex system of chambers and passageways of the inner ear; includes both the hearing and balance portions of the inner ear.
Labyrinthine Hydrops- Excessive fluid in the organ of balance (labyrinth); can cause pressure or fullness in the ears, hearing loss, dizziness, and loss of balance.
Labyrinthitis- An inflammation of the labyrinth. It can result in hearing loss/or balance problems.
Limbic System- A system of nerves and networks in the brain that controls basic emotions and drives.
Localization- Identification of the location of a sound source.
Loudness: Perception or impression of the strength of a sound without reference to any physical measuring tool such as a sound level meter.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)- Technique for mapping brain activity by recording magnetic fields produced by electrical currents occurring naturally in the brain.
Masker- Sound source that interferes with the perception of another sound.
Masking- Interfering with the perception of one sound by another; the level of interference that one sound can affect on another.
Mastoid- Back portion of the temporal bone that contains the inner ear.
Ménière's Disease- Inner ear disorder that can affect both hearing and balance. It can cause episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and the sensation of fullness in the ear.
Middle Ear- The portion of the ear lying immediately behind the ear drum and containing three tiny bones- malleus, incus and stapes. This area conducts sound from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Mild to Profound Hearing Loss- Generally, the degree of hearing loss is described using one of five categories: Mild (average from 25-40 dB HL); Moderate (average from 40-55 dB HL); Moderate/Severe (average from 55-70 dB HL); Severe (average from 70-90 HL); Profound (average greater than 90 dB HL).
Milliamperes- One thousandth of an ampere, a measure for small electric currents.
Misophonia- An aversion to sound.
MRI- Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Using magnetic fields and radio waves, an MRI produces a detailed image of the structure (neuroanatomy) of the brain.
Multidisciplinary Approach- Composed of or combining several usually separate branches of learning or fields of expertise, specialized subjects or skills.
Myelin Sheath- The insulation surrounding nerve bundles.
Neural Plasticity- The ability of neurons in the brain to reorganize or change based on new conditions (such as hearing loss that generates tinnitus) or environmental stimulation (like sound therapy leading to habituation).
Neural Prostheses- Devices that substitute for an injured or diseased part of the nervous system, such as the cochlear implant.
Neural Stimulation- To activate or energize a nerve through an external source.
Neuroauditive Cortex- The region of the brain responsible for processing auditory (sound) information.
Neuroauditive Cortex Reprogramming- A therapy utilizing sound to reduce the perception of tinnitus.
Neurofeedback (NFB) (Neuropathy, neurobiofeedback or EEG biofeedback)- Type of feedback that uses real-time displays of electroencephalography to illustrate brain activity. Sensors placed on the scalp measure activity, which is displayed using video images or sound.
Neuroimagery- Various techniques (PET, fMRI and MEG) used to either directly or indirectly image the structure and function of the brain.
Neuronal- (Having to do with) excitable cells in the nervous system that process and transmit information by electrochemical signaling.
Neurons- Cells of the nervous system that can rapidly transmit information from one cell to the next. Most neurons (or nerve cells) generate, receive, and conduct electrical impulses. When neurons are active, this is known as neural activity.
Neuroticism- Fundamental personality trait in the study of psychology; includes tendencies toward negative emotional states, such as anxiety, anger, guilt and depression when faced with potentially stressful situations.
Neurotoxicity- Property of a natural or artificial substance that damages the nervous system.
NMDA Receptor Antagonist- A class of anesthetics that work to inhibit the action of the NMDA (an amino acid derivative that mimics the action of glutamate) receptors in the brain.
Noise- Sound with no particular information; in contrast to a signal such as speech or music, noise has random phase.
Noise Control Act (1972)- States that U.S. citizens are not to be subjected to noises that jeopardize health and well-being.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)- Hearing loss caused by exposure to harmful sounds, either very loud impulse sound(s) or repeated long-term exposure to sounds in excess of 85 dBA; cumulative throughout one's lifetime characterized by decreased hearing sensitivity, tinnitus and/or hyperacusis.
Nucleus Accumbens- A collection of neurons within the subcortical part of the forebrain thought to play an important role in reward, pleasure, addiction, and the placebo effect.
Nystagmus- Abnormal, rapid, rhythmic, involuntary, alternating movements of the eyeball. Your eyes may jerk from side to side or up and down.
Objective Tinnitus- Head or ear noises audible to other people as well as the patient.
Occipital- Of, relating to or located within or near the occiput (back of the head) or the occipital bone.
Occlusion- The sensation from having a hearing aid or earmold in your ear, making it feel blocked up or like one's voice is in a barrel is referred to as ‘occlusion-effect’. To get an idea of what occlusion is try to put a finger into each ear while talking or eating.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)- An agency of the U.S. government under the Department of Labor with the responsibility of ensuring safety at work and a healthful work environment.
Otic- Relating to or near the ear.
Otitis- A general inflammation of the ear.
Otitis Externa- Inflammation of the external ear canal usually caused by an infection. Also called “swimmer’s ear.”
Otitis Media- Inflammation of the middle ear or ear drum.
Otorrhea- A purulent discharge from the ear; ear drainage.
Otoacoustic Emissions- Low-intensity sounds produced by the inner ear that can be quickly measured with a sensitive microphone placed in the ear canal.
Otolaryngologist- Physician/surgeon who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, and head and neck. They are commonly referred to as ENT physicians.
Otologist- Physician/surgeon who specializes in diseases of the ear.
Otorrhagia- Bleeding from the ear canal; ear hemorrhage.
Otosclerosis- An inherited dominant genetic condition that causes abnormal spongy bone growth on the tiny bones in the middle ear and surrounding bone.
Ototoxic- Drugs that are injurious or harmful to the ear- especially to the organs or nerves of the ear concerned with hearing and balance.
Outer Ear- External portion of the ear, consisting of the pinna, or auricle, and the ear canal.
Pathophysiology- The study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, either caused by a disease, or resulting from an abnormal syndrome.
Perforated Eardrum- An eardrum that has ruptured or has a hole in it. Also known as tympanic membrane perforation.
Permanent Threshold Shift (PTS)- A permanent decline in hearing following overexposure to noise. PTS usually occurs after repeated exposures to loud noise, but can also occur after only one traumatic exposure to noise. Most workers experience a Temporary Threshold Shift in hearing prior to a Permanent Threshold Shift. But because of individual variations in tolerance to noise, there is no way to predict when a shift in hearing will become permanent. Therefore, hearing protection is critical for all loud noise exposures.
Placebo- A treatment used in a scientific study as a control, usually omitting some or all key therapeutic elements of the treatment being studied; also called “sham.”
Polychoric Correlations- Multiple measures of associations (strength) of the relationship between two variables.
Presbycusis- Loss of hearing that gradually occurs because of changes in the inner or middle ear in individuals as they grow older.
Propagation- Phenomenom by which the motion of the original vibrating surface "travels" as a wave in all directions provided there is a medium.
Pseudo-randomized, double-blind study- Clinical study where people are assigned at random to one of two or more groups; group interventions can include medication/practice being studied, another medication/practice, placebo (“sugar pill”) or no intervention. Double-blind means neither investigators nor participants know what each group receives.
Psychoacoustics- A branch of science dealing with subjective human perceptions of sounds.
Pulsatile Tinnitus- Perception of abnormal pulsing sounds (resembling one's heartbeat) in the ears or head; usually caused by blood flow disturbance, a blood vessel abnormality, or, more uncommonly, a vascular tumor.
Pure Tone- A sound wave having only one frequency of vibration.
Pure-Tone Audiogram- An audiogram based on listening to pure tones as opposed to listening to speech.
Recruitment- An abnormally greater increase in loudness in response to increased sound intensity as compared with a normal ear.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)- Noninvasive method that sends tightly focused magnetic pulses to stimulate brain nerve cells; under study as a treatment tool for various conditions, such as tinnitus, migraine, Parkinson’s disease and major depression.
Reverberation- Prolongation of sound by multiple reflections after the original sound is removed.
Round Window- Membrane separating the middle ear and inner ear.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss- Hearing loss caused by damage to the sensory cells and/or nerve fibers of the inner ear.
Sensory Cortex- Rregion of the cerebral cortex concerned with receiving and interpreting sensory information from various parts of the body.
Sham- A treatment, e.g., medication or procedure, used in a scientific study as a control, usually omitting some or all key therapeutic elements of the treatment being studied; commonly called a “placebo.”
Signal- Sound we are trying to hear, typically has non-random phase.
Somatic Modulation- Movement of the jaw, head or neck that causes the loudness and/or frequency of one’s tinnitus to fluctuate.
Somatosensory- Neural activity caused by activation of sensory receptors on the body (e.g., through touch, vibrations, movements of muscles). For some people, somasensory activity (e.g. movements or touch to the arm, neck or face) can cause the perception of tinnitus to change.
Somatosensory Cortex- Area of the brain which processes input from the various systems in the body sensitive to touch.
Sound- Particle vibrations in an elastic medium.
Sound Generator- In its application to tinnitus relief, generates a recording of soothing sounds that might include rain, ocean waves, or other nature sounds, to be played quietly at night to reduce the awareness of tinnitus; can also be worn in the form of a hearing instrument during waking hours to help minimize the perception of tinnitus.
Sound Level Meter- Device that measures sound levels in decibels.
Sound Power- Acoustic power output of a sound source measured in watts.
Startle (Reflex)- Response of mind and body to a sudden unexpected stimulus, e.g., flash of light, loud noise or quick movement near the face.
Standard Threshold Shift (STS)- A significant change in hearing thresholds, defined by OSHA as an average decline of 10 dB or more at 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hz in a given ear, relative to a baseline audiogram.
Statistical Significance- A change caused by the treatment that is greater than the change that could be expected based on chance.
Subjective Tinnitus- Head or ear noises audible only to the sufferer.
Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL)- A rapid loss of hearing. SSHL can happen to a person all at once or over a period of up to 3 days.
Synaptic Plasticity- The ability of the synapse (connection) between two neurons to change in strength.
Syndromic Hearing Impairment- Hearing loss or deafness that, along with other characteristics, is inherited or passed down through generations of a family.
Temporal Lobe- Each of the paired lobes of the brain lying beneath the temples, including areas concerned with the understanding of speech.
Temporal Masking- Masking produced by a noise that occurs either just before or after the signal occurs.
Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS)- Initial overexposures to noise cause a temporary decline in hearing, which may last for a few minutes or hours. A person with a Temporary Threshold Shift will perceive incoming sound as being muffled, or not as sharp; but once the ear has rested for some time, hearing recovers to normal levels. Physiologists believe the receptor cells in the ear fatigue with loud noise exposures, and require several hours of relative quiet to return to their normal state. Repeated overexposures to loud noise, however, cause permanent damage, from which the ear cannot recover [see Permanent Threshold Shift].
Temporoparietal- Affecting the temporal and parietal lobes of the cerebral hemisphere.
Temporoparietal Cortex- A region of the brain known to be involved in speech perception.
Threshold- Quietest sound audible 50% of the time.
Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI)- A self-reported test utilized to assess a person’s tinnitus-related handicap and to report treatment outcomes.
Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ)- Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire- Looks at the emotional aspect of tinnitus as well as problems that are associated with concentration, hearing, and sleep due to tinnitus. Three factors are examined that include the physical, emotional, and social consequences of tinnitus, the hearing ability of the patient, and the patients’ view of tinnitus.
Tinnitus- The perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present.
Tinnitus Pathophysiology- The study of the changes or normal mechanical, physical and biochemical functions affected by tinnitus.
TMJ- A disharmony between the way the jaw joint works in its most unstrained position and the way the teeth occlude during those movements.
Tonal Tinnitus- A continuous sounds with a well-defined frequency; heard as ringing, buzzing, chirping.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)- The application of weak electrical currents to modulate the activity of neurons in the brain.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)- Noninvasive method to excite brain neurons; weak electric currents are induced in the tissue by rapidly changing magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction) to study the functionality of the circuitry and connectivity of the brain.
Trigeminal Ganglion- A sensory structure containing a number of nerve cell bodies, typically linked by synapses of the trigeminal nerve.
Tympanogram- The graph that results from tympanometry, describing the acoustic evaluation of the outer and middle ear's ability to accept and conduct sound.
Tympanometry- The measurement of the outer and middle ear's ability to accept and conduct sound.
Unilateral Hearing Loss- Hearing loss in one ear, either the left or right side.
Unilateral Tinnitus- Tinnitus perception occurring in one ear, either the left or right side.
Vagus Nerve Stimlation- Use of an implanted stimulator that sends electric impulses to the left vagus nerve in the neck via a lead wire implanted under the skin.
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex- A part of the brain implicated in the processing of risk and fear, and in decision making.
Vertigo- The illusion of movement, often accompanied by feelings of imbalance and/or nausea. Vertigo is a common result of damage to the balance system of the inner ear.
Vestibular Disorder- Disorders that affect one’s balance.
Vestibular System- The portion of the inner ear and the central nervous system involved with the sense of balance. This system controls your equilibrium (balance) and stabilizes your eyes in space. It works together with your brain to sense, maintain and regain your balance and a sense of where your body and its parts are positioned. Movement is regulated here.
Vestibulocochlear Nerve- A sensory nerve responsible for transmitting sound and equilibrium information from the inner ear to the brain; also known as the 8th nerve.
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)- A measurement instrument used for subjective characteristics or attitudes that cannot be directly measured.
Voxel-based Morphometry- A neuroimaging analysis technique that allows investigation of focal differences in brain anatomy.
Washout Period- A chance for the body to clear itself of any medication.
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