This is a glossary of medical terms related to communications disorders such as blindness and deafness. A glossary is a list of terms with the definitions for those terms. ... A communication disorder is a disease or condition that partially or totally prevents human communication. ... Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. ... An editor has expressed a concern that the topic of this article may be unencyclopedic. ...

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

A

Acoustic neurinoma - tumor, usually benign, which may develop on the hearing and balance nerves and can cause gradual hearing loss, tinnitus, and/or dizziness. (sometimes called vestibular schwannoma). Also see Neurofibromatosis Type 2. my problem: at times lost o vision and understanding. ... Tinnitus (ti-NIGHT-us or TIN-i-tus[1], from the Latin word for ringing[2]) is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s). ... In medicine, the neurofibromatoses (singular, neurofibromatosis) are certain genetic disorders of the nervous system. ...

Acquired deafness - loss of hearing that occurs or develops some time during the lifespan but is not present at birth.

Ageusia - loss of the sense of taste. Ageusia (pronounced ay-GOO-see-uh) is the loss of taste functions of the tongue, particularly the inability to detect sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness. ...

Albinism - lack of normal pigment in the skin, eyes, and hair. Albinism (from Latin albus, meaning white) is a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and/or hair. ...

Alport syndrome - hereditary condition characterized by kidney disease, sensorineural hearing loss, and sometimes eye defects. Alport syndrome is a hereditary disease characterized by hematuria. ...

American Sign Language (ASL) - manual language with its own syntax and grammar, used primarily by people who are deaf. American Sign Language (ASL, Ameslan) is the dominant sign language of the Deaf community in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in parts of Mexico. ...

Anosmia - absence of the sense of smell. Anosmia is the lack of olfaction, or a loss of the sense of smell. ...

Aphasia - total or partial loss of the ability to use or understand language; usually caused by stroke, brain disease, or injury. Aphasia (also Aphemia - from Greek α, without, and φημη, speech), is a loss or impairment of the ability to produce and/or comprehend language, due to brain damage. ...

Aphonia - complete loss of voice. Aphasia is a loss or impairment of the ability to produce or comprehend language, due to brain damage. ...

Apraxia - inability to execute a voluntary movement despite being able to demonstrate normal muscle function. Apraxia is a neurological disorder characterized by loss of the ability to execute or carry out learned (familiar) movements, despite having the desire and the physical ability to perform the movements. ...

Articulation disorder - inability to correctly produce speech sounds (phonemes) because of imprecise placement, timing, pressure, speed, or flow of movement of the lips, tongue, or throat.

Assistive devices - technical tools and devices such as alphabet boards, text telephones, or text-to-speech conversion software used to aid individuals who have communication disorders perform actions, tasks, and activities. Assistive Technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices and the process used in selecting, locating, and using them. ...

Audiologist - health care professional who is trained to evaluate hearing loss and related disorders, including balance (vestibular) disorders and tinnitus, and to rehabilitate individuals with hearing loss and related disorders. An audiologist uses 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. An audiologist is the professional specializing in disorders of the auditory and vestibular portions of the body; an audiologist diagnoses and treats hearing and (balance) problems. ... Tinnitus (ti-NIGHT-us or TIN-i-tus[1], from the Latin word for ringing[2]) is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s). ...

Auditory Brainstem Response test (ABR test) - a test for brain functioning in comatose, unresponsive, etc., patients, and for hearing in infants and young children; involves attaching electrodes to the head to record electrical activity from the hearing nerve and other parts of the brain.

Auditory nerve - eighth cranial nerve that connects the inner ear to the brainstem and is responsible for hearing and balance. The auditory nerve is the nerve along which the sensory cells (the hair cells) of the inner ear transmit information to the brain. ...

Auditory perception - ability to identify, interpret, and attach meaning to sound.

Auditory prosthesis - device that substitutes or enhances the ability to hear.

Augmentative devices - tools that help individuals with limited or absent speech to communicate, such as communication boards, pictographs (symbols that look like the things they represent), or ideographs (symbols representing ideas).

Aural rehabilitation - techniques used with people who are hearing impaired to improve their ability to speak and communicate.

Autoimmune deafness - individual's immune system produces abnormal antibodies that react against the body's healthy tissues.

Autism - brain disorder that begins in early childhood and persists throughout adulthood; affects three crucial areas of development: communication, social interaction, and creative or imaginative play. Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in delays of social interaction, language as used in social communication, or symbolic or imaginative play, with onset prior to age 3 years, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. ...

B

Balance - biological system that enables individuals to know where their bodies are in the environment and to maintain a desired position. Normal balance depends on information from the labyrinth in the inner ear, from other senses such as sight and touch, and from muscle movement. For other meanings of the word balance, see: propaganda equilibrium (disambiguation page) sense of balance weighing scale analytical balance (a precise weighing scale) balance beam in gymnastics Balance (song) homeostasis, the biological balance within a human or other animals body When the weights on the plates of this balance...

Balance disorder - disruption in the labyrinth, the inner ear organ that controls the balance system, which allows individuals to know where their bodies are in the environment. The labyrinth works with other systems in the body, such as the visual and skeletal systems, to maintain posture. Balance is the result of a number of body systems working together. ...

Barotrauma - injury to the middle ear caused by a reduction of air pressure. Barotrauma is physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure between an air space inside or beside the body and the surrounding gas or liquid. ...

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) - balance disorder that results in sudden onset of dizziness, spinning, or vertigo when moving the head. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a condition caused by problems in the inner ear. ...

Brainstem implant - auditory prosthesis that bypasses the cochlea and auditory nerve. This type of implant helps individuals who cannot benefit from a cochlear implant because the auditory nerves are not working.

C

Captioning - text display of spoken words, presented on a television or a movie screen, that allows a deaf or hard-of-hearing viewer to follow the dialogue and the action of a program simultaneously. Closed captioning allows deaf, hard of hearing / hearing_impaired, and other people to read, through captions, a transcript of the audio portion of a video that they cannot hear. ...

Central auditory processing disorder - inability to differentiate, recognize, or understand sounds; hearing and intelligence are normal. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), {Previously known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)}, is not a hearing impairment, but random inability to process what you hear. ...

Chemosensory disorders - diseases or problems associated with the sense of smell or the sense of taste.

Cholesteatoma - accumulation of dead cells in the middle ear, caused by repeated middle ear infections. Cholesteatomas are benign tumors in cases where a perforation of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) does not heal without surgery, but instead grows through the hole into the middle ear and, if infection develops, results in a cyst-like tumor. ...

Cochlea - snail-shaped structure in the inner ear that contains the organ of hearing. Cross section of the cochlea. ...

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. Illustration of the internal parts of a cochlear implant A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that can help provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing. ...

Cognition - thinking skills that include perception, memory, awareness, reasoning, judgment, intellect, and imagination. Look up Cognition in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Conductive hearing impairment - hearing loss caused by dysfunction of the outer or middle ear. Temporary reduction of hearing sensitivity as indicated by the increase of hearing threshold level occurs after exposure to loud sounds. ...

Cued speech - method of communication that combines speech reading with a system of handshapes placed near the mouth to help deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals differentiate words that look similar on the lips (e.g., bunch vs. punch) or are hidden (e.g., gag). Cued Speech is a system of communication used with and among deaf or hard of hearing people. ...

Cytomegalovirus (Congenital) - one group of herpes viruses that infects humans and can cause a variety of clinical symptoms, including deafness or hearing impairment; infection with the virus may be either before or after birth. Species see text Cytomegalovirus (CMV), is a genus of Herpes viruses; in humans the species is known as Human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5). ...

D

Decibel - unit that measures the intensity or loudness of sound. The decibel (dB) is a measure of the ratio between two quantities, and is used in a wide variety of measurements in acoustics, physics and electronics. ...

Dizziness - physical unsteadiness, imbalance, and lightheadedness associated with balance disorders. Dizziness (Latin: Vertigo) is the sensation of instability. ...

Dysarthria - group of speech disorders caused by disturbances in the strength or coordination of the muscles of the speech mechanism as a result of damage to the brain or nerves. Dysarthria (from new latin dys-, prefix meaning mis-, dis-, accidental + greek -arthro, joint) is an injury or symptom describing minor speech impediments, often slurred speech. ...

Dysequilibrium - any disturbance of balance.

Dysfluency - disruption in the smooth flow or expression of speech.

Dysgeusia - distortion or absence of the sense of taste. Dysgeusia is the distortion or decrease of the sense of taste. ...

Dyslexia - learning disability characterized by reading difficulties. Some individuals may also have difficulty writing, spelling, or working with numbers. Developmental dyslexia is a condition or learning disability which causes difficulty with reading and writing. ...

Dysosmia - distortion or absence of the sense of smell.

Dysphagia - difficulty swallowing. Dysphagia (, not to be confused with dysphasia) is a medical term defined as difficulty swallowing. It derives from the Greek root dys meaning difficulty or disordered, and phagia meaning to eat. It is a sensation that suggests difficulty in the passage of solids or liquids from the mouth to the...

Dysphonia - any impairment of the voice or speaking ability. Lisp may mean: Lisp programming language Lisp (speech) This is a disambiguation page — a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...

Dyspraxia of speech - in individuals with normal muscle tone and speech muscle coordination, partial loss of the ability to consistently pronounce words. Dyspraxia Definitions Dyspraxia is a life long developmental co-ordination disorder that is more common in males than in females, and has been believed to affect 8-10% of all children (Dyspraxia Trust, 1991) . Ripley, Daines and Barrett state that Developmental dyspraxia is difficulty getting our bodies to do what...

Dystonia - abnormal muscle tone of one or more muscles. Dystonia (literally, abnormal muscle tone) is a generic term used to describe a neurological movement disorder involving involuntary, sustained muscle contractions. ...

E

Ear infection - presence and growth of bacteria or viruses in the ear. Otitis media (also known as glue ear) is an inflammation of the middle ear, usually associated with a buildup of fluid. ...

Earwax - yellow secretion from glands in the outer ear (cerumen) that keeps the skin of the ear dry and protected from infection. Wet-type human earwax on a cotton swab. ...

Endolymph - fluid in the labyrinth (the organ of balance located in the inner ear that consists of three semicircular canals and the vestibule). Endolymph is the fluid contained in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear. ...

F

G

Gustation - act or sensation of tasting. Taste is one of the most common and fundamental of the senses in life on Earth. ...

H

Hair cells - sensory cells of the inner ear, which are topped with hair-like structures, the stereocilia, and which transform the mechanical energy of sound waves into nerve impulses. Hair cells are the sensory cells of both the auditory system and the vestibular system in all vertebrates. ...

Haptic sense - sense of physical contact or touch.

Haptometer - instrument for measuring sensitivity to touch.

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, or audition, is one of the traditional five senses, and refers to the ability to detect sound. ...

Hearing aid - electronic device that brings amplified sound to the ear. A hearing aid usually consists of a microphone, amplifier, and receiver. Behind the ear aid A hearing aid is a device used to help hard-of-hearing people hear sounds better. ...

Hearing disorder - disruption in the normal hearing process that may occur in outer, middle, or inner ear, whereby sound waves are not conducted to the inner ear, converted to electrical signals and/or nerve impulses are not transmitted to the brain to be interpreted. Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

Hereditary hearing impairment - hearing loss passed down through generations of a family.

Hoarseness - abnormally rough or harsh-sounding voice caused by vocal abuse and other disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux, thyroid problems, or trauma to the larynx (voice box). Dysphonia is the medical term for hoarseness or other phonation disorders. ...

Hyper neurotic diafragma contractions - the hick-ups

Hypogeusia - diminished sensitivity to taste.

Hyposmia - diminished sensitivity to smell. Hyposmia is a reduced ability to smell and to detect odors. ...

I

Inner ear - part of the ear that contains both the organ of hearing (the cochlea) and the organ of balance (the labyrinth). Bat ears come in different sizes and shapes The ear is the sense organ that detects sound. ...

J

K

Kallmann's syndrome - disorder that can include several characteristics such as absence of the sense of smell and decreased functional activity of the gonads (organs that produce sex cells), affecting growth and sexual development. Kallmanns syndrome, first reported in 1856 by Franz Josef Kallmann, is also known as familial hypogonadism with anosmia or hypogonadotropic eunuchoidism. ...

L

Labyrinth - organ of balance located in the inner ear. The labyrinth consists of three semicircular canals and the vestibule. See also Labyrinth, an article treating the mythical maze that imprisoned the Minotaur. ...

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 - viral or bacterial infection or inflammation of the inner ear that can cause dizziness, loss of balance, and temporary hearing loss. balance disorder that usually follows an upper respiratory tract infection (URI). ...

Landau-Kleffner syndrome - childhood disorder of unknown origin which often extends into adulthood and can be identified by gradual or sudden loss of the ability to understand and use spoken language. Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS), also called progressive epileptic aphasia, is a rare, childhood neurological syndrome characterized by the sudden or gradual development of aphasia (the inability to understand or express language) and an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG). ...

Language - system for communicating ideas and feelings using sounds, gestures, signs, or marks.

Language disorders - any of a number of problems with verbal communication and the ability to use or understand a symbol system for communication. Speech disorders, or speech impediments as they are also called, are a type of communication disorders where normal speech is disrupted. ...

Laryngeal neoplasms - abnormal growths in the larynx (voice box) that can be cancerous or noncancerous. Cancer of the larynx may also be called laryngeal cancer or laryngeal carcinoma. ...

Laryngeal nodules - noncancerous, callous-like growths on the inner parts of the vocal folds (vocal cords); usually caused by vocal abuse or misuse.

Laryngeal paralysis - loss of function or feeling of one or both of the vocal folds caused by injury or disease to the nerves of the larynx. Laryngeal paralysis in animals is a condition in which the folds of the larynx do not retract and allow the larynx to open during breathing as they should. ...

Laryngectomy - surgery to remove part or all of the larynx (voice box). Laryngectomy is the surgical removal of the larynx and separation of the airway from the mouth, nose, and esophagus. ...

Laryngitis - hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds (vocal cords). Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. ...

Larynx - valve structure between the trachea (windpipe) and the pharynx (the upper throat) that is the primary organ of voice production. The pharynx (plural pharynx), or voicebox, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the trachea and sound production. ...

Learning disabilities - childhood disorders characterized by difficulty with certain skills such as reading or writing in individuals with normal intelligence. In the United States and Canada, the term learning disability is used to refer to psychological and neurological conditions that affect a persons communicative capacities and potential to be taught effectively. ...

M

Mastoid - back portion of the temporal bone that contains the inner ear. Mastoid can mean: Of, relating to or in the region of the mastoid process. ...

Mastoid surgery - surgical procedure to remove infection from the mastoid bone.

Meige syndrome - movement disorder that can involve excessive eye blinking (blepharospasm) with involuntary movements of the jaw muscles, lips, and tongue (oromandibular dystonia). Meiges syndrome is a type of dystonia, also known as oral facial dystonia or hemifacial spasm, the main symptoms of which involve involuntary blinking and chin thrusting. ...

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. Ménières disease (or syndrome, since its cause is unknown) is named after the French physician Prosper Ménière, who first reported that vertigo was caused by inner ear disorders in an article published in 1861. ... Tinnitus (ti-NIGHT-us or TIN-i-tus[1], from the Latin word for ringing[2]) is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s). ...

Meningitis - inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that envelop the brain and the spinal cord; may cause hearing loss or deafness. Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges. ...

Middle ear - part of the ear that includes the eardrum and three tiny bones of the middle ear, ending at the round window that leads to the inner ear. The middle ear is the portion of the ear internal to the eardrum, and external to the oval window of the cochlea. ...

Misarticulation - inaccurately produced speech sound (phoneme) or sounds.

Motion sickness - dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and generalized discomfort experienced when an individual is in motion. Motion sickness is a condition in which the endolymph (the fluid found in the semicircular canals of the inner ears) becomes stirred up, causing confusion between the difference between apparent perceived movement (none or very little), and actual movement. ...

Motor speech disorders - group of disorders caused by the inability to accurately produce speech sounds (phonemes) because of muscle weakness or incoordination or difficulty performing voluntary muscle movements.

N

Neuroplasticity - ability of the brain and/or certain parts of the nervous system to adapt to new conditions, such as an injury. Refers to the ability of the brain to physically change in response to stimulus and activity. ...

Neural prostheses - devices that substitute for an injured or diseased part of the nervous system, such as the cochlear implant. Neuroprosthetics is an area of neuroscience concerned with neural prostheses, developing artificial devices to replace or improve the function of an impaired nervous system. ...

Neural stimulation - to activate or energize a nerve through an external source.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1 von Recklinghausen's) - group of inherited disorders in which noncancerous tumors grow on several nerves that may include the hearing nerve. The symptoms of NF-1 include coffee-colored spots on the skin, enlargement, deformation of bones, and neurofibromas. In medicine, the neurofibromatoses (singular, neurofibromatosis) are certain genetic disorders of the nervous system. ...

Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF-2) - group of inherited disorders in which noncancerous tumors grow on several nerves that usually include the hearing nerve. The symptoms of NF-2 include tumors on the hearing nerve which can affect hearing and balance. NF-2 may occur in the teenage years with hearing loss. Also see acoustic neurinoma. In medicine, the neurofibromatoses (singular, neurofibromatosis) are certain genetic disorders of the nervous system. ...

Neurogenic communication disorder - inability to exchange information with others because of hearing, speech, and/or language problems caused by impairment of the nervous system (brain or nerves).

Noise-induced hearing loss - hearing loss caused by exposure to harmful sounds, either very loud impulse sound(s) or repeated exposure to sounds over 90-decibel level over an extended period of time that damage the sensitive structures of the inner ear.

Nonsyndromic hereditary hearing impairment - hearing loss or deafness that is inherited and is not associated with other inherited clinical characteristics.

O

Odorant - substance that stimulates the sense of smell. An Odorant is an substance that can be smelled. ...

Olfaction - the act of smelling. Olfaction (the sense of smell) is the detection of chemicals dissolved in air. ...

Olfactometer - device for estimating the intensity of the sense of smell.

Open-set speech recognition - understanding speech without visual clues (speech reading).

Otitis externa - inflammation of the outer part of the ear extending to the auditory canal.

Otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear caused by infection. Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear segment of the ear. ...

Otoacoustic emissions - low-intensity sounds produced by the inner ear that can be quickly measured with a sensitive microphone placed in the ear canal. An otoacoustic emission (OAE) is a sound which is generated from within the inner ear. ...

Otolaryngologist - physician/surgeon who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, and head and neck. Otolaryngology is the branch of medicine that specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head & neck disorders. ...

Otologist - physician/surgeon who specializes in diseases of the ear.

Otosclerosis - abnormal growth of bone of the inner ear. This bone prevents structures within the ear from working properly and causes hearing loss. For some people with otosclerosis, the hearing loss may become severe. Otosclerosis is a hearing condition in which the stapes in the ear becomes attached to the surrounding bone by an abnormal bone growth. ...

Ototoxic drugs - drugs such as a special class of antibiotics, aminoglycoside antibiotics, that can damage the hearing and balance organs located in the inner ear for some individuals.

Outer ear - external portion of the ear, consisting of the pinna, or auricle, and the ear canal. The outer ear is the external portion of the ear and includes the eardrum. ...

P

Papillomavirus - group of viruses that can cause noncancerous wart-like tumors to grow on the surface of skin and internal organs such as the respiratory tract; can be life-threatening. Species See text Papillomaviruses are viruses that commonly cause warts. ...

Parosmia - any disease or perversion of the sense of smell, especially the subjective perception of odors that do not exist. This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ...

Perception (Hearing) - process of knowing or being aware of information through the ear. The word, Perception, comes from the latin word, capere, meaning to take, the prefix per- means completely. In psychology and the cognitive sciences, perception is the process of acquiring, interpreting, selecting, and organizing sensory information. ...

Perilymph fistula - leakage of inner ear fluid to the middle ear that occurs without apparent cause or that is associated with head trauma, physical exertion, or barotrauma.

Pervasive developmental disorders - disorders characterized by delays in several areas of development that may include socialization and communication.

Pheromones - chemical substances secreted by an animal that elicit a specific behavioral or physiological response in another animal of the same species. Fanning honeybee exposes Nasonov gland (white-at tip of abdomen) releasing pheromone to entice swarm into an empty hive A pheromone is any chemical or set of chemicals produced by a living organism that transmits a message to other members of the same species. ...

Phonology - study of speech sounds. The vowels of modern (Standard) Arabic and (Israeli) Hebrew from the phonological point of view. ...

Postlingually deafened - individual who becomes deaf after having acquired language.

Prelingually deafened - individual who is either born deaf or who lost his or her hearing early in childhood, before acquiring language.

Presbycusis - loss of hearing that gradually occurs because of changes in the inner or middle ear in individuals as they grow older. Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, is the cumulative effect of aging on hearing. ...

Q

R

Reading disorders - any of a group of problems characterized by difficulty using or understanding the symbol system for written language.

Round window - membrane separating the middle ear and inner ear. The round window is one of two membranes that separates the inner ear from the middle ear. ...

S

Sensorineural hearing loss - hearing loss caused by damage to the sensory cells and/or nerve fibers of the inner ear. Sensorineural hearing loss is a type of hearing loss in which the root cause lies in the vestibulocochlear nerve (Cranial nerve VIII), the inner ear, or central processing centers of the brain. ...

Sign language - method of communication for people who are deaf or hard of hearing in which hand movements, gestures, and facial expressions convey grammatical structure and meaning. A sign language (also signed language) is a language which uses manual communication instead of sound to convey meaning - simultaneously combining handshapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to express fluidly a speakers thoughts. ...

Smell - to perceive odor or scent through stimuli affecting the olfactory nerves. See olfaction. Olfaction (the sense of smell) is the detection of chemicals dissolved in air. ...

Smell disorder - inability to perceive odors. It may be temporary, caused by a head cold or swelling or blockage of the nasal passages. It can be permanent when any part of the olfactory region is damaged by factors such as brain injury, tumor, disease, or chronic rhinitis.

Sound vocalization - ability to produce voice.

Spasmodic dysphonia - momentary disruption of voice caused by involuntary movements of one or more muscles of the larynx or voice box. Spasmodic dysphonia (or laryngeal dystonia) is a voice disorder characterized by involuntary movements of one or more muscles of the larynx (vocal folds or voice box) during speech. ...

Specific language impairment (SLI) - difficulty with language or the organized-symbol system used for communication in the absence of problems such as mental retardation, hearing loss, or emotional disorders. Specific language impairment (SLI) is a form of language disorder that affects both expressive and receptive language. ...

Speech - spoken communication. Look up Speech in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Speech disorder - any defect or abnormality that prevents an individual from communicating by means of spoken words. Speech disorders may develop from nerve injury to the brain, muscular paralysis, structural defects, hysteria, or mental retardation. Speech disorders, or speech impediments as they are also called, are a type of communication disorders where normal speech is disrupted. ...

Speech processor - part of a cochlear implant that converts speech sounds into electrical impulses to stimulate the auditory nerve, allowing an individual to understand sound and speech.

Speech-language pathologist - health professional trained to evaluate and treat people who have voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorders (including hearing impairment) that affect their ability to communicate. It has been suggested that Speech pathology, Speech therapy, Phoniatrics be merged into this article or section. ...

Stroke - also known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA); caused by a lack of blood to the brain, resulting in the sudden loss of speech, language, or the ability to move a body part, and, if severe enough, death. A stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA),[1] is an acute neurologic injury in which the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted. ... A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted by occlusion (an ischemic stroke- approximately 90% of strokes), by hemorrhage (a hemorrhagic stroke - less than 10% of strokes) or other causes. ...

Stuttering - frequent repetition of words or parts of words that disrupts the smooth flow of speech. Stuttering, also known as stammering in the United Kingdom, is a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words or phrases; and involuntary silent pauses or blocks in which the stutterer is unable to produce sounds. ...

Sudden deafness - loss of hearing that occurs quickly due to such causes as explosion, a viral infection, or the use of some drugs.

Swallowing disorders - any of a group of problems that interferes with the transfer of food from the mouth to the stomach.

Syndromic hearing impairment - hearing loss or deafness that, along with other characteristics, is inherited or passed down through generations of a family.

T

Tactile - related to touch or the sense of touch. Tactition is the sense of pressure perception. ...

Tactile devices - mechanical instruments that make use of touch to help individuals who have certain disabilities, such as deaf-blindness, to communicate.

Taste - sensation produced by a stimulus applied to the gustatory nerve endings in the tongue. The four tastes are salt, sour, sweet, and bitter. Some scientists indicate the existence of a fifth taste, described as savory. Taste is one of the most common and fundamental of the senses of animals. ...

Taste buds - groups of cells located on the tongue that enable one to recognize different tastes. Taste buds (or lingual papillae) are small structures on the upper surface of the tongue that provide information about the taste of food being eaten. ...

Taste disorder - inability to perceive different flavors. Taste disorders may result from poor oral hygiene, gum disease, hepatitis, or medicines and chemotherapeutic drugs. Taste disorders may also be neurological.

Throat disorders - disorders or diseases of the larynx (voice box), pharynx, or esophagus.

Thyroplasty - surgical technique to improve voice by altering the cartilages of the larynx, which houses the vocal folds (vocal cords), in order to change the position or length of the vocal folds. Also known as laryngeal framework surgery.

Tinnitus - sensation of a ringing, roaring, or buzzing sound in the ears or head. It is often associated with many forms of hearing impairment and noise exposure. Tinnitus (ti-NIGHT-us or TIN-i-tus[1], from the Latin word for ringing[2]) is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s). ...

Tongue - large muscle on the floor of the mouth that manipulates food for chewing and swallowing. It is the main organ of taste, and assists in forming speech sounds. A human tongue The tongue is the large bundle of skeletal muscles on the floor of the mouth that manipulates food for chewing and swallowing, (deglutition). ...

Touch - tactile sense; the sense by which contact with the skin or mucous membrane is experienced. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Tourette syndrome - neurological disorder characterized by recurring movements and sounds (called tics). Tourette syndrome (also called Tourettes syndrome, Tourettes disorder, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, GTS or the more common Tourettes or TS) is an inherited neurological disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic; these... A tic is a repetitive, stereotyped, nonrhythmic, involuntary movement (motor tic) or sound (phonic tic). ...

Tracheostomy - surgical opening into the trachea (windpipe) to help someone breathe who has an obstruction or swelling in the larynx (voice box) or upper throat or who has had the larynx surgically removed. Tracheotomy is a surgical procedure used to cut a hole in the trachea through which a small tube is inserted. ...

Tuberous Sclerosis - Hereditary disease with multiorgan manifestation. Typical symptoms are epileptic seizures, autism, skin disorders, and renal tumors. Tuberous sclerosis, (meaning hard potatoes), is a rare genetic disorder primarily characterized by a triad of seizures, mental retardation, and skin lesions (called adenoma sebaceum). ...

Tympanoplasty - surgical repair of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) or bones of the middle ear. Tympanoplasty is reconstructive surgery for the tympanic membrane. ...

U

Umami - Taste of substances such as L-glutamate salts (MSG) that are found in foods like bouillon and other stocks. (reference:Yamaguchi S, Ninomiya K. J Nutr. 2000 Apr:130(4S Suppl):921S-926S.) Human taste sensory organs, called taste buds or gustatory calyculi, and concentrated on the upper surface of the tongue, appear to be receptive to relatively few chemical species as tastes. ...

Usher syndrome - hereditary disease that affects hearing and vision and sometimes balance. Usher syndrome is a genetic disease causing deaf-blindness. ...

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Velocardiofacial syndrome - inherited disorder characterized by cleft palate (opening in the roof of the mouth), heart defects, characteristic facial appearance, minor learning problems, and speech and feeding problems. 22 q11 microdeletion syndrome is a birth defect caused by a genetic abnormality that occurs in approximately one in 700 births. ...

Vertigo - illusion of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around an individual (objective vertigo) or as if the individual were revolving in space (subjective vertigo). Vertigo, sometimes called a headrush, is a major symptom of a balance disorder. ...

Vestibular Neuronitis - infection at the vestibular nerve. Vestibular Neuronitis is a paroxysmal, single attack of vertigo. ...

Vestibular system - system in the body that is responsible for maintaining balance, posture, and the body's orientation in space. This system also regulates locomotion and other movements and keeps objects in visual focus as the body moves. The vestibular system, or balance system, is the sensory system that provides the dominant input about our movement and orientation in space. ...

Vestibule - bony cavity of the inner ear. Vestibule can have the following meanings, each primarily based upon a common origin, from early 17th century French, derived from Latin vestibulum ‘entrance court. ...

Vibrotactile aids - mechanical instruments that help individuals who are deaf to detect and interpret sound through the sense of touch.

Vocal cord paralysis - inability of one or both vocal folds (vocal cords) to move because of damage to the brain or nerves.

Vocal cords (Vocal folds) - muscularized folds of mucous membrane that extend from the larynx (voice box) wall. The folds are enclosed in elastic vocal ligament and muscle that control the tension and rate of vibration of the cords as air passes through them. Laryngoscopic view of the vocal folds. ...

Vocal folds - see Vocal cords. Laryngoscopic view of the vocal folds. ...

Vocal tremor - trembling or shaking of one or more of the muscles of the larynx, resulting in an unsteady-sounding voice.

Voice - sound produced by air passing out through the larynx and upper respiratory tract. The human voice consists of sound made by a person using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, screaming or crying. ...

Voice disorders - group of problems involving abnormal pitch, loudness, or quality of the sound produced by the larynx (voice box). Voice disorders are medical conditions affecting the production of speech. ...

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Waardenburg syndrome - hereditary disorder that is characterized by hearing impairment, a white shock of hair and/or distinctive blue color to one or both eyes, and wide-set inner corners of the eyes. Balance problems are also associated with some types of Waardenburg syndrome. Waardenburg syndrome is an inherited disorder associated with hearing loss and changes in skin and hair pigmentation. ...

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 Xara = Diseases in the brain 

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