Hearing Flashcards
What is the medium through which sound travels?
Sound travels in compression waves through a particular medium: solid, liquid, gas.
Sound travels fastest in solids and slowest in gases.
What are compressions and rarefactions in sound waves?
Compressions are areas of high pressure, and rarefactions are areas of low pressure in sound waves.
What is a sine wave?
A sine wave is a graphic representation of areas of compression and rarefaction of a sound wave.
What is wavelength?
Wavelength is the distance between two areas of compression for a given sound wave.
What is frequency?
Frequency is the number of waves that pass a given point in one second, measured in Hertz (1/s).
What is the human frequency range?
The human frequency range is from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
What is amplitude in sound waves?
Amplitude is the intensity of energy in a given wave of sound, signified by the height of the sine wave.
What is the decibel scale?
The decibel scale is a logarithmic scale used to measure the intensity of sound waves.
What is the threshold for audibility in decibels?
The threshold for audibility is 0 dB, which is barely audible.
What is conduction deafness?
Conduction deafness is a disruption in sound vibrations to the basilar membrane, often due to issues in the external or middle ear.
What is sensorineural deafness?
Sensorineural deafness is a disruption anywhere in the pathway from hair cells to the auditory cortex.
What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is the chronic perception of clicking or ringing sounds.
What is Menierre’s Syndrome?
Menierre’s Syndrome affects both hearing and balance, resulting in tinnitus, vertigo, and nausea.
What is the vestibule in the inner ear?
The vestibule is a bony cavity of the inner ear located between the cochlea and the semicircular canals.
What are maculae?
Maculae are patches of supporting cells and hair cells along the utricles and saccules in the vestibule.
