Module 13: Hearing

I- The Stimulus Input: Sound waves

A- Acoustical Transduction: Conversion of sound waves into neural impulses in the hair cells of
the inner ear.

B- Frequency- the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time.

C- Pitch- a tone’s highness or lowness; depends on frequency.

II- The Ear

A- The middle ear- the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones
(hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of that eardrum in the cochlea’s oval
window.

B-Inner ear- The innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals and
vestibular sacs.

C- Cochlea- A coiled, bony fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve
impulses.

III- How do we perceive pitch?

A- Place theory- in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s
membrane is stimulated.

B- Frequency Theory- In hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory
nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch.

IV- How do we locate sound? Hearing loss and Deaf culture

A- The ear’s intricate and delicate structure makes it vulnerable to damage.

B- Conduction hearing loss- hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts
sound waves to the cochlea.

C- Sensorineural hearing loss- Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea’s receptor cells or to
the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness.