CAOHC Exam Study Solutions

CAOHC Exam Study Solutions Unit of measurement for frequency (pitch) - ANSWER- Hertz (Hz) Unit of measurement for intensity (loudness) - ANSWER- Decibel (dB) Risk of damage from noise - ANSWER- How loud (intensity) and how long (duration) Steady-state or continuous noise, e.g. generator - ANSWER- Lasts 1 second or longer Impulse or Impact noise, e.g. gunfire or nail gun - ANSWER- Lasts less than one second Parts of the outer ear - ANSWER- Pinna and external auditory canal Parts of the middle ear - ANSWER- Tympanic membrane, ossicles, eustachian tube Eustachian tube (auditory tube) - ANSWER- Tube connecting the middle ear to the pharynx and equalizes middle ear space with atmospheric pressure Conductive HL occurs here - ANSWER- Outer or middle ear Sensorineural hearing loss - ANSWER- Hearing loss resulting from damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or the auditory nerve Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) - ANSWER- Condition caused by the destruction of hair cells, the organs responsible for hearing, as a result of sounds that are "too long, too loud, or too close"; a sensorineural hearing loss Mixed hearing loss - ANSWER- Combination of conductive and sensorineural types in the same ear Middle ear bones (ossicles) - ANSWER- Malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), stapes (stirrup) Possible early symptoms/signs of noise induced hearing loss - ANSWER- Tinnitus; difficulty understanding in presence of background noise; read visual cues Auditory effects of noise - ANSWER- NIHL; tinnitus; hyperacusis Non-auditory effects of noise - ANSWER- annoyance sleep disturbance attention motivation stress reactions cardiovascular problems endocrine problems 3 foot rule - ANSWER- Good rule of thumb to recognize hazardous noise exposure levels/situations: the rule is: if you have to shout at arms length (~3ft), in order to be understood over the background noise, then you're likely exposed to hazardous noise levels & should be wearing hearing protection to prevent NIHL