How the Ear Works
As sound travels from a source to our brain what are the three parts of the ear that it passes through?
Outer ear, middle ear, inner ear.
What can fix a hearing loss?
Nothing, hearing aids cannot even completely fix a hearing loss.
What part of the ear is affected by noise? Outer, middle, or inner ear?
Inner ear.
If a sound doesn't hurt your ears, can it damage your hearing?
Yes.
Name two types of hearing protection.
Ear muffs, ear plugs.
After sound waves travel through the ear canal, they cause the eardrum to vibrate. The eardrum then causes three bones in the middle ear to vibrate. These bones are...?
Malleus, incus, stapes.
True/False. Hearing loss from noise can be permanent.
True
What is the ringing in our ears that is can be from too much noise?
Tinnitus.
How loud is normal speech?
60 dB.
What are the steps to properly insert foam plugs?
Roll. Plug. Push.
The bones in the middle ear transmit the sound vibrations to the fluid-filled auditory organ in the inner ear where a sound is ultimately encoded and sent to the brain. This snail-shaped, fluid-filled auditory organ is called the?
Cochlea.
What professional would determine if you have a noise-induced hearing loss?
An audiologist.
What part of the inner ear is damaged by noise?
Stereocilia
How is sound measured?
Decibels.
What is the best type of hearing protection?
The type of hearing protection people will wear.
Structures within the inner ear that are primarily responsible for creating an electrical signal of the incoming sound vibrations sit on top of microscopic hair cells. These structures are responsible for moving with the fluid in the inner ear and when they deflect allow a chemical charge to be sent to the brain. These structures are called what?
Stereocilla.
If your hearing is damaged, can loud sounds damage it even more?
Yes.
What pitches may you have difficulty hearing if you have a noise-induced hearing loss?
Mid to high pitches that are important for understanding speech.
What is one loud noise we can be exposed to outdoors?
Jet (140 dB), lawn mower (90 dB), concert (110 dB), firecracker (160 dB).
How can you protect your hearing while using earbuds?
Turn down the volume & take breaks.
Once the electrical signal is generated by the hair cells, What structure sends messages to the brain about the sound?
The auditory nerve.
If you think you are going to be putting yourself at risk for a noise induced hearing loss (i.e. going to a concert), what is an easy way to test if you may have gotten a noise induced hearing?
Prior to the event, set the volume of your radio or music device at the lowest volume you can understand the lyrics. After the event, play music in the same device at the same level and see if you have any difficulties understanding the lyrics. If you feel like you need to turn up the volume to understand your music, this may indicate that you are experiencing a temporary or permanent noise induced hearing loss.
In addition to damaged stereocilia, what other structure can be damaged by sound?
Synapses between the hair cells and auditory nerve.
At what level can sounds be harmful to your ears?
85 dB, for example, the school cafeteria.
What are three ways to protect your ears from a noisy environment?
Walk away, lower the volume, wear hearing protection.