Action for Deafness

What is it...?

Acoustic trauma - Term referring to noise induced hearing loss.

Acquired hearing loss - Hearing loss that was not present at birth but developed later, either during childhood or adulthood.

Analogue hearing aids - Hearing aids using traditional sound amplification technology.

Assistive devices - Equipment that can help you in your daily life. Such as amplified telephones, loop system etc.

Audiogram - Chart on which the results of an audiometric tests are recorded.

Audiology - The study, professional assessment and management of heaaring disorders.

Audiometer - Machine used to measure a patient's hearing.

Barotrauma - Injury to the ear caused by exposure to sudden pressure changes, for example in flying or diving.

BSL - British Sign Language.

Cerumen - Ear Wax.

Cochlear implant - A device in which electrodes stimulate the auditory nerve directly. Can improve the hearing abilities of profoundly deaf people.

Conductive deafness - Term used to describe deafness in the outer or middle ear, where deafness is due to sound transmission being obstructed in some way.

Congenital hearing loss - Hearing loss that is thought to have been present at birth, associated with the birth process, or to have developed in the first few days of life.

Cued speech - A system of hand shapes and placements to aid understanding of spoken language.

Deaf - Generic term used to describe the whole range of people with a hearing loss. Can alsomean partially or completely lacking in the sense of hearing. If used with a capital 'D' in the middle of a sentence, it refers to the 'Deaf Community'.

Digital hearing aid - Hearing aids utilising digital sound processing systems, which enable accurate control over the way the sound is reproduced.