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Sample Discriptive Process 2

This document provides an overview of how sound is processed by the human ear in 3 main parts: outer, middle, and inner ear. It describes the 6 key steps: 1) sound is funneled into the ear canal, 2) vibrates the eardrum, 3) vibrates the ossicles, 4) causes fluid waves in the cochlea, 5) hair cells convert this to electrical signals, 6) which are sent to the brain for perception. It includes diagrams labeling the different parts of the ear and their roles in transmitting sound to be interpreted as meaningful messages by the brain. Damage to any part can result in hearing loss.

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38 views

Sample Discriptive Process 2

This document provides an overview of how sound is processed by the human ear in 3 main parts: outer, middle, and inner ear. It describes the 6 key steps: 1) sound is funneled into the ear canal, 2) vibrates the eardrum, 3) vibrates the ossicles, 4) causes fluid waves in the cochlea, 5) hair cells convert this to electrical signals, 6) which are sent to the brain for perception. It includes diagrams labeling the different parts of the ear and their roles in transmitting sound to be interpreted as meaningful messages by the brain. Damage to any part can result in hearing loss.

Uploaded by

Acatech Cab
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How We Hear: A Look at the Ear and How it

Processes Sound

Brittany O’Shea
Written For: Communication Sciences & Disorders Majors
taking Introduction to Audiology
February 26, 2012
Audience and Scope
This document was created to inform students majoring in Communication Sciences and
Disorders about the hearing process and how the ears works. Specifically this document will be
used in an Introduction to Audiology class where hearing and hearing disorders are discussed.
Before one can learn about hearing disorders however, they must understand the basic process of
hearing in a healthy, normal functioning ear. This document could be used in a class lecture or
as supplementary notes to a lecture.

Introduction
The ear is the portion of the body that converts sound waves into electrical and chemical
energy making it possible for sound to be perceived by the brain. The three major portions of the
ear (outer, middle and inner) are all used in this process. This document will take you through
the steps of how all sounds travel from the environment and are processed by your brain.

How the Ear Works


The process of hearing can be quite a complex task, however when broken down into
basic steps it is much easier to understand. Sounds travel through the ear and to the brain in the
following manner:

1. Sound is funneled in by the outer ear into the ear canal.

2. Sounds waves cause the tympanic membrane (the ear drum) to vibrate.

3. The ossicles of the middle ear vibrate.

4. The vibrations cause fluid waves to be sent up the cochlea.

5. Hair cells in the cochlea convert the chemical energy to electrical energy

6. The electrical impulse is sent up the auditory nerve to the brain where the sound is
perceived and processed.

Let’s Take a Closer Look…


The Human Ear
Figure 1 http://www.hearingcentral.com/howtheearworks.asp

1. Sound is funneled in by the outer ear into the ear canal


As you can see in Figure 1 the shape of the outer ear resembles a funnel. This is
not just for cosmetic purposes, but rather to “funnel” in sound waves as a way to
direct the sound where it needs to go. The sounds waves are channeled from the
outer ear and the ear canal and directed to the tympanic membrane, which is more
commonly known as the eardrum.

2. Sound waves cause the tympanic membrane to vibrate.


The energy from the sound waves causes the tympanic membrane to vibrate.
The tympanic membrane is the barrier that separates the outer and middle ear. This
vibration is then continued into the middle ear.

3. The ossicles of the middle ear vibrate


The energy from the vibration of the tympanic membrane causes the ossicles of
the middle ear to vibrate as well. On the other side of the tympanic membrane (in
the middle ear) there are three tiny bones known as ossicles. These bones are called
the malleus, incus and stapes ( see Figure 1) and when the vibrations hit them they
begin to rock back and forth which triggers fluid in the inner ear to be set in motion.

4. The vibrations cause fluid waves to be sent up the cochlea


The vibrations on the middle ear can be felt in the inner ear, which causes fluid
there to create wave like motions in the cochlea (the inner ear). The cochlea, which
is snail-shaped, is known as the organ of hearing and is lined with tiny hair cells.
When the fluid is in motion the hair cells are activated. The cochlea is known to be
tonotopically organized, meaning that each area on the cochlea responds to different
frequencies of sound.

Figure 2 http://www.clarkaudiology.com/tinnitus.html

5. Hair cells in the cochlea convert the chemical energy to electrical


energy
As you can see from Figure 2 the hair cells in the cochlea lay on what is
known as the basal membrane or the base of the cochlea. The chemical energy
activates the hairs cells causing them to move in a back and forth motion. When
the hair cells become activated they then transform this chemical energy into
electric impulses. The sound energy is now ready to be sent to the brain.

The loss or damage of hair cells which can be seen in Figure 2


causes sounds in those certain frequency areas to not be able to be
heard, this is known as sensorineural hearing loss.

6. The electrical impulse is sent up the auditory nerve to the brain


where the sound is perceived and processed.
The electrical impulse that is created in the cochlea contains information
about the sound and its frequencies. This information carrying impulse is sent
from the cochlea and up the auditory nerve. From the auditory nerve the impulse
goes to the brain. The area known for comprehension of sound is the temporal
lobe, here the sound is perceived and processed and the hearing process is
complete.
Conclusion
While it is possible to function without one’s hearing, it presents a major
communication barrier. If one step in the hearing process goes wrong sound will not be
transmitted correctly and the message could be misinterpreted.

In order for the correct message to be relayed from the environment to the brain the
sound needs to first be funneled into the ear canal, then cause vibrations in the tympanic
membrane and the ossicles of the middle ear. The vibrations must then be strong enough to
create fluid waves up into the cochlea.

From there the activated hair cells will convert the energy into an electric impulse,
allowing the message to be sent to the interpreting center in the brain. If these steps are not
followed or there is damage to one or more areas of the ear, a hearing loss will be the result.

Figure Citations:
Figure 1: Hearing Central, LLC, 2012
http://www.hearingcentral.com/howtheearworks.asp

Figure 2: Clark Audiology, 2011


http://www.clarkaudiology.com/tinnitus.html

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