Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
partially located in the middle ear to
amplify vibrations into the inner ear.
Mixed Hearing Loss (MHL).
Hearing
loss that is the combination of
both conductive hearing loss and
sensorineural hearing loss.
MP3.
Also known as “MPEG” or the
Motion Picture Experts group; is
an audio coding format for digital
audio which uses a form of data
compression.
MPEG-4.
A digital multimedia format
most commonly used to store video
and audio, but can also be used to
store other data such as subtitles and
still images.
M-Ratings.
A hearing aid compatibility
rating between a hearing aid
microphone and a mobile phone
.
Near Field Communication (NFC)
Te c h n o l o g y.
A form of short-range
wireless communication where the
antenna used is much smaller
than the wavelength of the carrier
signal.
Needs Assessment.
A systematic process
for determining and addressing
needs, or “gaps” between current
conditions and desired conditions or
“wants.” The discrepancy between
the current condition and wanted
condition must be measured to
appropriately identify the need.
Noise.
An aperiodic complex signal.
May be used to describe any
undesirable signal, whether acoustic,
electric, magnetic, or biologic; in the
case of hearing, background noise
obscures or masks speech sounds
making it more difficult to perceive.
Open Captions (OC).
A text display
of all of the words and sounds heard
during a production presented
on a screen for visual media; a
nonbroadcasted signal that is always
present on the screen and cannot be
turned off.
Outcome Measures.
The assessment of
the benefits of an intervention such
as amplification or the goals and
objectives that are established after
the initial diagnostic workup of a
client.
Participation Restriction.
A problem
experienced by an individual in
involvement in life situations.
Personal Sound Amplification Product
(PSAP).
Wearable electronic
products that are intended to amplify
sounds for people who do not have
hearing loss.
Piconet.
Small network of wireless
devices, which become an Internet
of Things (IoT) if connected to the
Internet.
Public Address System.
An electronic
sound amplification and distribution
system with a microphone, amplifier,
and loudspeakers, used to allow a
person to address a large group.
Quality of Life (QoL).
An indicator of
the general well-being of a person.
Radio Frequency (RF) Interference.
See
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
.
Receiver.
An electronic device that
receives signals wirelessly from a
microphone transmitter (e.g., FM
receiver); in hearing aids it is an
electronic component that refers
to the miniature loudspeaker that
