4.3 Hearing

Question 1

wavelength of the sound wave (known as frequency)

Answer 1

measured in terms of the number of waves that arrive per second and determines our perception of pitch

Question 2

pitch

Answer 2

the perceived frequency of a sound

Question 3

amplitude

Answer 3

height of the sound wave

Question 4

loudness

Answer 4

the degree of sound volume

Question 5

decibel

Answer 5

the unit of relative loudness

Question 6

pinna

Answer 6

the external and visible part of the ear

Question 7

tympanic membrane (eardrum)

Answer 7

the tightly stretched, highly sensitive membrane

Question 8

cochlea

Answer 8

a snail-shaped liquid-filled tube in the inner ear

Question 9

oval window

Answer 9

the membrane covering the opening of the cochlea

Question 10

frequency theory of hearing

Answer 10

proposes that whatever the pitch of a sound wave, nerve impulses of a corresponding frequency will be sent to the auditory nerve

Question 11

place theory of hearing

Answer 11

proposes that different areas of the cochlea respond to different frequencies

Question 12

Conductive hearing loss

Answer 12

caused by physical damage to the ear (such as to the eardrums or ossicles) that reduce the ability of the ear to transfer vibrations from the outer ear to the inner ear

Question 13

Sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 13

which is caused by damage to the cilia or to the auditory nerve, is less common overall but frequently occurs with age

Question 14

tinnitus

Answer 14

a ringing or a buzzing sensation

Question 15

cochlear implant

Answer 15

a device made up of a series of electrodes that are placed inside the cochlea