Hearing

Question 1

Frequency (pitch):

Answer 1

Dimension of frequency determined by wavelength of sound… measured in hertz (Hz)

Humans can hear sounds at frequencies from about 20Hz to 20,000Hz.

Hearing is best at around 3,000 to 4,000 HZ, where human speech is centered.

Question 2

Intensity (loudness):

Answer 2

amount of energy in a wave determined by amplitude; related to perceived loudness.

Loudness is measured in decibels.

Question 3

Cochlea

Answer 3

Coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear
that transduces sound vibrations to auditory signals.

Question 4

Frequency Theory

Answer 4

states that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch.

Question 5

Place Theory

Answer 5

suggests that sound frequencies stimulate basilar membrane at specific places resulting in perceived pitch.

Question 6

Localization of Sound

Answer 6

Because we have two ears sounds that reach
one ear faster than the other makes us localize the sound.

Question 7

Hearing Loss

Answer 7

Just as when you drive a new car off the lot, it depreciates in value due to its use, your ear’s hearing ability decreases with use.

Question 8

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss-

Answer 8

the progressive inability to detect higher frequency sounds due to damage to the hair cells accrued over time and with use.
generally any sound loud enough to produce tinnitus (ringing of the ears) causes some damage (85db)

High intensity (loud) sounds can actually tear off the hair cells of the inner ear

Question 9

Conduction Deafness:

Answer 9

Hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea.

may be “corrected” with surgery or hearing aides

Question 10

Sensorineural Deafness:

Answer 10

Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea’s receptor cells or to the auditory nerve, also called nerve deafness.

this is a permanent condition

Question 11

Cochlear Implant

Answer 11

A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing.

An implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it can give a deaf person a useful representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her to understand speech.