Vocabulary

accommodation    Adjustment of the eye that allows a person to see various sizes of objects at different distances.
amblyopia (am blee OH pee ah)    Dull or dim vision, with no apparent organic defect.
audible (AW di buhl)    Capable of being heard.
audiologist (aw dee OL uh jist)    Allied healthcare professional who specializes in the evaluation of hearing function, detection of hearing impairment, and determination of the anatomic site of impairment.
auditory cortex    The region of the cerebral cortex that receives auditory data.
biconvex (bie KON veks)    Has two outward curving surfaces on a lens.
binocular (buh NOK yuh ler)    Involving, relating, or seeing with both eyes.
dynamic (die NAM ik) equilibrium    Relating to balance when moving at an angle or rotating.
equilibrium (ee kwi LIB ree uhm)    A state of rest or balance due to the equal action of opposing forces.
evert (ih VURT)    To turn the eyelid inside out; the provider typically does this to inspect the area for foreign bodies.
gonioscopy (goh nee AH skuh pee)    Used to diagnose glaucoma and inspect ocular movement.
hertz (hurts)    The unit of measurement used in hearing examinations; a wave frequency equal to one cycle per second.
medulla oblongata (muh DUHL uh ob lawng GAH tah)    The lowest part of the brain, continuous with the top of the spinal cord.
miotic (my OT ik)    Any substance or medication that causes constriction of the pupil.
otosclerosis (oh tuh skleh ROH sis)    The ossicles of the middle ear (malleolus, incus, and stapes) become fused and act as a single unit instead of as individual bones.
ototoxic (oh tuh TOK sik)    A medicine or substance capable of damaging cranial nerve VIII or the organs of hearing and balance.
photophobia (foh toh FOH bee ah)    Extreme sensitivity to light.
presbyopia (pres bee oh pee- uh)    Farsightedness due to ciliary weakness and loss of elasticity in the lens.
psoriasis (suh RIE i sis)    A usually chronic, recurrent skin disease marked by bright red patches covered with silvery scales.
seborrhea (seb uh REE ah)    An excessive discharge of sebum from the sebaceous glands, forming greasy scales or crusty areas on the body.
sensorineural (sen suh ree NOOR uhl)    Involving the sensory nerves, especially as they affect hearing.
serous (SEER uhs)    A thin, watery serum-like drainage.
static equilibrium (STAT ik)    Relating to balance when moving in a straight line.
suppurative (SUHP yuh ruh tiv)    Characterized by the formation or discharge of pus.
thalamus (THAL uh muhs)    The middle part of the brain through which sensory impulses pass to reach the cerebral cortex.
tinnitus (TIN it uhs)    A noise sensation of ringing heard in one or both ears.
tonometer (toh NOM i ter)    An instrument used to measure intraocular pressure.
vascular (VAS kyuh ler)    Having (blood) vessels that conduct or circulate liquids (blood).
vertigo (VUR ti goh)    Dizziness; abnormal sensations of movement when there is none.