Conduction and Middle Ear Flashcards
Define Conduction:
How sound travels through the OE ME and IE
How do sounds travel through the ear?
Through pathways where there is modification in amplitude, frequency and timing
What is the Normal pathway of Air conduction? (OE and ME)
Ear canal-Eardrum-ME bone chain
What is Normal pathway of sound conduction?
Air Conduction
(Ear canal-Eardrum-ME bone chain)
What are the steps of sound conduction in the IE? (3)
- Traveling wave—OC vibration
- Hair bundle deflection
- OHC active force–loop back to IHCs Mech-Electrical-Mech-Hydraulic
In the OE, resonance is due to?
To the standing wave just like a tube sealed at one end
f =n* c /( 4 * L)
What is the length of the ear canal and the speed of sound?
2.6 cm
33100 cm/s
When does resonance (standing wave enhancement) occur?
A tone of fixed frequency is given. Resonance is demonstrated by changing the length of tube. When the relationship between the length and the frequency meet the requirement of resonance, we see the output amplitude (the recorded waveform) increases.
This is easier than showing the resonance of a tube (with fixed length) by changing the frequency of the sound. By changing the frequency of the signal, we need to make calibration to make sure the acoustic output of the speaker remains the same across the frequency range.
What is the definition of Frequency response/Transfer function?
How gain/phase changes with frequency or how does a system responds to certain frequencies
What is gain?
Output/Input, in ratio or in dB
dB gain = ____log (_____________ Ratio) = ____ log (_______________ ratio)
20 log (pressure ratio) = 10 log (intensity ratio)
What can we say about the relationship between the gain and the frequency range of hearing?
The gain varies across frequency range of hearing
Explain what is occurring in this picture.
We can see the ratio gain between the different parts of the OE.
Ratio Gain: G=Output/Input
So for example Flange effect is seen as the difference between Microphone 2 and M1, Concha: M3-M2, etc.
Which parts provide the biggest dB gain between the Flange, Concha and Meatus?
Meatus 10dB
What is the maximum dB gain in the OE?
15 dB
The maximum dB gain in the OE is peaked at how much Hz for adults?
3200 Hz
What is the role of the ME in land animals?
Impedance Matching
Three middle ear mechanisms provide gain for compensating impedance mismatch, what are they?
(1) Area action
(2) Lever action
(3) Buckling action
What is the dB contribution of the Area action in the ME?
25 dB
What is the dB contribution of the Lever Action in the ME?
2.5 dB
What is the dB contribution of the Buckling Action in the ME?
6 dB