The Hearing Sense Flashcards
What is Audition
This is the process by which our ears process sound waves. For something to be sound it has to be perceived
What are Sound Waves
These are vibrations of molecules that travel through the air
What is Amplitude
This is the height of the soundwave, the psychological quality of loudness. The greater the height the louder the sound. 120+(dB) can damage hearing and at 150(dB) it can rupture your eardrum
What is Frequency
The number of wavelength cycles in a unit of time, it is measured using hertz. This determines the pitch of the sound
Parts of the Ear
- Pinna
- Tympanic membrane (ear drum)
Middle Ear: - Auditory ossicles
- Malleus
- Incus
- Stapes
Inner Ear - Cochlea
What is the Pinna
Ths the outer visible part of the ear, they catch sound waves and direct them to the ear canal.
Tympanic membrane (ear drum)
This is where soundwaves vibrate
The Middle Ear
This is where sound waves travel to vibrate the bones, the bones concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea
The Cochlea
The snail looking thing, in this section sound waves trigger nerve impulses
What is the Place theory
It explains how we distinguish high pitched sounds that posses’s a frequency that exceeds 5000 hertz
What is the Frequency Theory
It explains that we hear pitch based on how fast the hair cells vibrate
What is Locating Sound (sound localization)
When the sound wave hits one ear before the other we are able to find the sound’s location
What is Conduction Hearing Loss
This is hearing loss caused by structural damage to the eardrums, this could be due to age, extreme noise, environmental effects, and illness
What is Sensorineural Hearing Loss
This occurs when the inner ear, cochlea, or auditory nerve is not functioning properly
What is the Cochlear Implant
This is a small device that stimulates the cochlear nerve (hearing nerve)
