AUDIOLOGY PRAXIS STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What estimation of children in US are deaf or hard of hearing? - ANSWER-3-4 million
What is the estimate of people in US who are hearing impaired? - ANSWER-36 million
The ear is divided into 3 sections. What are they? - ANSWER-outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear
What is the outer ear comprised of? - ANSWER-auricle or pinna, and external auditory canal
Describe the auricle or pinna - ANSWER-it funnels sound to ear canal and helps localize sounds
(this is most visible part of ear and composed primarily of cartilage)
Describe external auditory canal - ANSWER-aka external auditory meatus, which goes from the
pinna to the tympanic membrane or ear drum
The external auditory canal is mostly made of what? - ANSWER-muscular tube, made mostly of
cartilage
How is the external auditory canal shaped? - ANSWER-like a S
Because the external auditory canal is shaped like a S, what must the specialist who examine
the ear canal do to the pinna? - ANSWER-the specialist who examines the ear canal must first
pull the pinna up and back to insert the otoscope into the canal
On average, how long is the external auditory canal? - ANSWER-approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch)
long and resonates sound that enters it.
Where does the external auditory canal end? - ANSWER-it ends at the tympanic membrane, or
eardrum
The external auditory canal has special cells that secrete what? - ANSWER-wax or cerumen
THe middle ear is an air cavity separated from the outer ear by what? - ANSWER-by the
tympanic membrane
There are 3 small bones in the middle ear form what? - ANSWER-ossicular chain
The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to what? - ANSWER-connects the middle ear to
the nasopharynx
A ruptured or puctured tympanic membrane may heal spontaneously, but repeated ruptures
may cause scar tissue, which does what? - ANSWER-scar tissue reduces the tympanic
membrane's mobility
,The tympanic membrane TM is describe - ANSWER-elastic
thin
cone-shaped
flexible & tough
vibrates in response to sound pressure
How does the TM respond to frequencies? - ANSWER-responds entirely to low frequencies
but only certain portions to high frequencies
What is the ossiculur chain composed of? - ANSWER-it is suspended in the middle ear by
ligaments, it is composed of 3 tiny bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes
What is the 1st and largest of the three bones? - ANSWER-it is the malleus-Latin for hammer.
Because of the attachment, the vibrations of the tympanic membrane are transmitted to what?
- ANSWER-to the malleus
One end of malleus is embedded where? - ANSWER-tymapnic membrane
The malleus is attached to the 2nd bone called what? - ANSWER-the inclus (Latin for anvil)
Is there much movement between the malleus and the incus? - ANSWER-The malleus and the
incus are connected in a tight joint that permits very little movmenet
The incus is attached to a third bone called what? - ANSWER-it is called the stapes (latin for
stirrup)
The footplate, or the other end of the stapes, is inserted into what? - ANSWER-inserted into the
oval window
the oval window leads to what? - ANSWER-the oval window is a small opening that leads to the
inner ear
The ossiculuar chain amplifies incoming sound by how many dB before transmitting it into
what? - ANSWER-the ossiculuar chain amplifies incoming sound by approximately 30dB before
transmitting it into fluids of the inner ear
Y or N Does the ossicular chain transmit sound efficiently without distortion? - ANSWER-yes
There are 2 small muscles in the middle ear that dampen the vibrations of the tympanic
membrane and the ossicular chain. What are they? - ANSWER-tensor tympani, and stapedius
muscle
,The tensor tympani is innervated through what CN? - ANSWER-cranial nerve 5
The stapedius muscle, the smallest muscle in the body, is innervated by what CN? - ANSWER-by
CN 7-the facial nerve
What does the stapedius muscle do to the ossicular chain? - ANSWER-it stiffens the ossicular
chain so that its vibrations are reduced.
The tensor tympani muscle tenses what? - ANSWER-the tensor tympani muscle tenses the
tympanic membrane so its vibrations are reduced
What is the acoustic reflex? - ANSWER-when a person hears a very loud noise that could
damage the ears, the middle ear muscles contract in a reflexive action called the acoustic reflex
What does the acoustic reflex stiffen? - ANSWER-the acoustic reflex stiffens the middle ear
systems, especially the tympanic membrane
Where does the eustachian tube connect? - ANSWER-the eustachian tube goes from the
anterior middle ear wall to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx
What does the Eustachian Tube ET aka. auditory tube connect? - ANSWER-it connects the
middle ear with the nasopharynx
What does the eustachian tube help mantain? - ANSWER-the eustachian tube helps maintain
equal air pressure within and outside the middle ear
What end of the eustachian tube can be opened by yawning or swallowing? - ANSWER-The
nasopharyngeal end of the tube can be opened by yawning or swallowing
when the eustachian tube is opened by yawning or swallowing what does it let in? - ANSWER-
this lets in fresh air
The opening of the eustachian tube is assisted by what? - ANSWER-assisted by the contraction
of the tensor veli palatini and the levator veli palatini
The eustachian tube can also allow germs and infections to spread into where? - ANSWER-into
the middle ear, causing ear problems
What part is the most complex of the 3 divisions of the ear? - ANSWER-the inner ear is the most
complex of the 3 divisions of the ear
Where does the inner ear begin? - ANSWER-the inner ear begins with the oval window
Where is the oval window? - ANSWER-it is a small opening in the temporal bone that houses
the inner ear
, The inner ear is a system of interconnecting tunnels called labryinths. Where are the labyrinths
located? - ANSWER-they are located within the temporal bone
What does the vestibular system contain? - ANSWER-they contain 3 semicircular canals
There are 2 major structures in the inner ear. What are they? - ANSWER-vestibular systems
and cochlea
What are the semicircular canals responsible for? - ANSWER-the semicircle canals are
responsible for equilibrium. Thus, the vestibular system is related to movement, balance, and
body posture
When stretched how long is the human cochlea? - ANSWER-3.8 cm (1.5 inches)
What is the cochlea filled with? - ANSWER-endolymph, a type of fluid
The floor of the cochlear duct is called? - ANSWER-basilar membrane
What does basilar membrane contain? - ANSWER-the organ of Corti
Describe the organ of the Corti - ANSWER-The organ of the Corti is bathed in endolymph and
contains several thousand hair cells or cilia
What does the hair cell of the organ of Corti respond to? - ANSWER-They respond to sound
vibrations. Each ear contains about 15,500 hair cells
The vibrations created by the footplate of the stapes into the oval window create what? -
ANSWER-create wavelike movements in the perilymph
Through what membrane are the movements of the stapes into perilymph transmitted to the
endolymph? - ANSWER-Reissner's membrane
Where is the perilymph located? - ANSWER-the inner ear is a system of interconnecting tunnels
called labyrinths within the temporal lobe.
The tunnels are filled with a fluid called perilymph
The endoloymph then transmits the movement to what? - ANSWER-the basilar membrane
Different portions of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies. Describe how the
tip responds to sounds - ANSWER-The tip of the membrane is thicker, wider, and more lax than
the base
http://wn.com/reissner's_membrane
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What estimation of children in US are deaf or hard of hearing? - ANSWER-3-4 million
What is the estimate of people in US who are hearing impaired? - ANSWER-36 million
The ear is divided into 3 sections. What are they? - ANSWER-outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear
What is the outer ear comprised of? - ANSWER-auricle or pinna, and external auditory canal
Describe the auricle or pinna - ANSWER-it funnels sound to ear canal and helps localize sounds
(this is most visible part of ear and composed primarily of cartilage)
Describe external auditory canal - ANSWER-aka external auditory meatus, which goes from the
pinna to the tympanic membrane or ear drum
The external auditory canal is mostly made of what? - ANSWER-muscular tube, made mostly of
cartilage
How is the external auditory canal shaped? - ANSWER-like a S
Because the external auditory canal is shaped like a S, what must the specialist who examine
the ear canal do to the pinna? - ANSWER-the specialist who examines the ear canal must first
pull the pinna up and back to insert the otoscope into the canal
On average, how long is the external auditory canal? - ANSWER-approximately 2.5 cm (1 inch)
long and resonates sound that enters it.
Where does the external auditory canal end? - ANSWER-it ends at the tympanic membrane, or
eardrum
The external auditory canal has special cells that secrete what? - ANSWER-wax or cerumen
THe middle ear is an air cavity separated from the outer ear by what? - ANSWER-by the
tympanic membrane
There are 3 small bones in the middle ear form what? - ANSWER-ossicular chain
The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to what? - ANSWER-connects the middle ear to
the nasopharynx
A ruptured or puctured tympanic membrane may heal spontaneously, but repeated ruptures
may cause scar tissue, which does what? - ANSWER-scar tissue reduces the tympanic
membrane's mobility
,The tympanic membrane TM is describe - ANSWER-elastic
thin
cone-shaped
flexible & tough
vibrates in response to sound pressure
How does the TM respond to frequencies? - ANSWER-responds entirely to low frequencies
but only certain portions to high frequencies
What is the ossiculur chain composed of? - ANSWER-it is suspended in the middle ear by
ligaments, it is composed of 3 tiny bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes
What is the 1st and largest of the three bones? - ANSWER-it is the malleus-Latin for hammer.
Because of the attachment, the vibrations of the tympanic membrane are transmitted to what?
- ANSWER-to the malleus
One end of malleus is embedded where? - ANSWER-tymapnic membrane
The malleus is attached to the 2nd bone called what? - ANSWER-the inclus (Latin for anvil)
Is there much movement between the malleus and the incus? - ANSWER-The malleus and the
incus are connected in a tight joint that permits very little movmenet
The incus is attached to a third bone called what? - ANSWER-it is called the stapes (latin for
stirrup)
The footplate, or the other end of the stapes, is inserted into what? - ANSWER-inserted into the
oval window
the oval window leads to what? - ANSWER-the oval window is a small opening that leads to the
inner ear
The ossiculuar chain amplifies incoming sound by how many dB before transmitting it into
what? - ANSWER-the ossiculuar chain amplifies incoming sound by approximately 30dB before
transmitting it into fluids of the inner ear
Y or N Does the ossicular chain transmit sound efficiently without distortion? - ANSWER-yes
There are 2 small muscles in the middle ear that dampen the vibrations of the tympanic
membrane and the ossicular chain. What are they? - ANSWER-tensor tympani, and stapedius
muscle
,The tensor tympani is innervated through what CN? - ANSWER-cranial nerve 5
The stapedius muscle, the smallest muscle in the body, is innervated by what CN? - ANSWER-by
CN 7-the facial nerve
What does the stapedius muscle do to the ossicular chain? - ANSWER-it stiffens the ossicular
chain so that its vibrations are reduced.
The tensor tympani muscle tenses what? - ANSWER-the tensor tympani muscle tenses the
tympanic membrane so its vibrations are reduced
What is the acoustic reflex? - ANSWER-when a person hears a very loud noise that could
damage the ears, the middle ear muscles contract in a reflexive action called the acoustic reflex
What does the acoustic reflex stiffen? - ANSWER-the acoustic reflex stiffens the middle ear
systems, especially the tympanic membrane
Where does the eustachian tube connect? - ANSWER-the eustachian tube goes from the
anterior middle ear wall to the posterior wall of the nasopharynx
What does the Eustachian Tube ET aka. auditory tube connect? - ANSWER-it connects the
middle ear with the nasopharynx
What does the eustachian tube help mantain? - ANSWER-the eustachian tube helps maintain
equal air pressure within and outside the middle ear
What end of the eustachian tube can be opened by yawning or swallowing? - ANSWER-The
nasopharyngeal end of the tube can be opened by yawning or swallowing
when the eustachian tube is opened by yawning or swallowing what does it let in? - ANSWER-
this lets in fresh air
The opening of the eustachian tube is assisted by what? - ANSWER-assisted by the contraction
of the tensor veli palatini and the levator veli palatini
The eustachian tube can also allow germs and infections to spread into where? - ANSWER-into
the middle ear, causing ear problems
What part is the most complex of the 3 divisions of the ear? - ANSWER-the inner ear is the most
complex of the 3 divisions of the ear
Where does the inner ear begin? - ANSWER-the inner ear begins with the oval window
Where is the oval window? - ANSWER-it is a small opening in the temporal bone that houses
the inner ear
, The inner ear is a system of interconnecting tunnels called labryinths. Where are the labyrinths
located? - ANSWER-they are located within the temporal bone
What does the vestibular system contain? - ANSWER-they contain 3 semicircular canals
There are 2 major structures in the inner ear. What are they? - ANSWER-vestibular systems
and cochlea
What are the semicircular canals responsible for? - ANSWER-the semicircle canals are
responsible for equilibrium. Thus, the vestibular system is related to movement, balance, and
body posture
When stretched how long is the human cochlea? - ANSWER-3.8 cm (1.5 inches)
What is the cochlea filled with? - ANSWER-endolymph, a type of fluid
The floor of the cochlear duct is called? - ANSWER-basilar membrane
What does basilar membrane contain? - ANSWER-the organ of Corti
Describe the organ of the Corti - ANSWER-The organ of the Corti is bathed in endolymph and
contains several thousand hair cells or cilia
What does the hair cell of the organ of Corti respond to? - ANSWER-They respond to sound
vibrations. Each ear contains about 15,500 hair cells
The vibrations created by the footplate of the stapes into the oval window create what? -
ANSWER-create wavelike movements in the perilymph
Through what membrane are the movements of the stapes into perilymph transmitted to the
endolymph? - ANSWER-Reissner's membrane
Where is the perilymph located? - ANSWER-the inner ear is a system of interconnecting tunnels
called labyrinths within the temporal lobe.
The tunnels are filled with a fluid called perilymph
The endoloymph then transmits the movement to what? - ANSWER-the basilar membrane
Different portions of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies. Describe how the
tip responds to sounds - ANSWER-The tip of the membrane is thicker, wider, and more lax than
the base
http://wn.com/reissner's_membrane
