Have you heard these words?

1. Tragus. That little bump of cartilage on the outside of your ear canal. It doesn’t do anything.

2. Tinnitus. Ringing in your ears. It can be caused by loud noises or ear infections.

3. External otitis. A doctor’s way of saying swimmer’s ear, an infection of the ear canal.

4. Otitis media. The medical way to say infection of the middle ear, the kind most little kids get.

5. Tympanogram. A test to see how well your eardrum is working; a small machine is put in your ear and makes a quiet noise.

6. Otolaryngologist. A kind of doctor, also known as an ENT, who treats the ears, nose and throat.

7. Audiologist. Someone trained to diagnose and treat people with hearing loss or balance problems.

8. Pinna. The part of your ear that’s outside your body.

9. Stapes. The smallest bone in your body. Also known as the stirrup, this is one of three bones that make up the eardrum. The others are the malleus (hammer) and the incus (anvil).

10. Cochlea. The part of your ear that translates sounds into nerve messages and sends them to your brain. This spiral-shaped “shell” is located deep in the ear and is covered with tiny hairs that move when hit by sound vibrations.

COVER STORY
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FOR CHILDREN
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Have your heard these words?


QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Eating disorders

SECOND OPINION
None of us has time to be sick

COLUMINISTS
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