Communication

Topic 12: Processing Sound

 DOT Point(s)
outline the path of a sound wave through the external,
middle and inner ear and identify the energy
transformations that occur
describe the relationship between the distribution of hair
cells in the organ of Corti and the detection of sounds of
different frequencies
outline the role of the sound shadow cast by the head in
the location of sound
 Introduction
In this section we are
going to trace the path
of a sound wave through
the ear to the organ of
Corti where it is
processed. I suggest
you draw a flowchart to
outline the path of
sound in the next few
slides. There’s 9 steps
to you may not get it all
on a single line. You
could do it vertically www.hearingtestlabs.com
 The Path of Sound
Sound is transmitted as a wave through air in the auditory
canal to the outer layer of the tympanic membrane.

auditory canal (Eardrum) tympanic membrane

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 The Path of Sound
Vibrations from the tympanic membrane are conveyed
through this air-filled chamber via the movement of the
interconnecting ear ossicles to the oval window of the
inner ear.

(Ossicles) malleus incus stapes

www.cochlear.com
 The Path of Sound
The stapes vibrates the oval window setting up a pressure
wave in the perilymph of the upper canal of the Cochlea.
This causes Reissner’s membrane to move.

oval window cochlea

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 The Path of Sound
The movement of Reissner’s membrane transfers the
kinetic energy to the endolymph of the middle ear canal.
This vibrates the basilar membrane, stimulating the hair
cells of the organ of Corti.
Hair cells (Organ of Corti)

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 The Path of Sound
The hair cells send messages
along nerve fibres to the brain
where they are interpreted. The
pressure waves continue to the
round window at the end of the
lower canal.

Auditory Nerves
Brain

www.cidpusa.org
 Energy Transformations
Sound waves pass in air along the auditory canal. Sound
energy is converted to mechanical (kinetic) as the
vibration is set up in the tympanic membrane. The
mechanical energy is transmitted through the three ear
ossicles to the oval window.

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 Energy Transformations
As it passes into the perilymph, as a pressure wave, the
mechanical energy is transferred via Reissner’s membrane
to the endolymph to the organ of Corti. Mechanical energy
is now converted to electrochemical energy as information
is transmitted, as nerve impulses, from the hair cells by the
auditory nerve to the brain.

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 Energy Transformations
Lets review what our flow-charts should look like shall
we…

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 The Organ of Corti
The organ of Corti rests on top of the basilar membrane.
It is composed of supporting cells and about 15 500
hearing receptor cells called cochlea hair cells. Unlike
other cells of the body, there is a finite number and they
are not replaced as they die.

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 The Organ of Corti
There is one row of inner hair cells and three rows of outer
hair cells. These are sandwiched between the tectorial and
basilar membranes of the cochlea.

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 The Organ of Corti
The fibres of the cochlea nerve are coiled around the bases
of the hair cells. The ‘hairs’ of the hair cells (cilia)
protrude into the potassium (K+) rich endolymph and the
longest of them are embedded in the overlying gel of the
tectorial membrane.

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 The Organ of Corti
Activation of the hair
cells occurs at points of
vigorous vibration of the
basilar membrane. Hair
cells nearest the oval
window (base) are
activated by the highest
pitched sounds while
those furthest away at the
narrow end of the cochlea
www.daviddarling.info
are stimulated by low
frequency sounds.
 Measurement of Sound
Sound is measured by its relative intensity. The unit of
measurement is the decibel (dB). A sound, 10 time as
powerful as another is said to be 10 decibels more intense.
A decibel level of zero (0dB) represents the faintest sound
audible to the average person. The usual level for
conversation is about 60dB. Sound becomes physically
painful to humans above 130dB.

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 Dangers
Noise is probably the most common occupational hazard
facing people today. Even leisure activities produce
harmful noise. Many everyday sounds may not be
recognised as hazardous as they do not intrude our
comfort zone.

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 Dangers
A bulldozer, idling at 85dB, can cause permanent damage
to hearing in one workday. Standard volume music,
transmitted directly vie earphones, reach 100dB and can
cause permanent damage after only 15 minutes per day.

www.hardwarecanucks.com
 Dangers dB Source
10 Normal breating
Avoid noise which causes 20 Whisper
discomfort. Above 120dB, 50 Rainfall
noise can be felt on the 60 Conversation
eardrum as a tickling 70 Washing machine
sensation. Beyond 130dB 80 Busy city traffic
the sensation turns to pain. 90 Hair dryer
100 Mp3 player
110 Rock concert
120 Ambulance
130 Jet plane from 30 metres
away
140 Fireworks
160 Shotgun
180 Space rocket at liftoff
 Sound Shadows
The phenomenon caused by
the obstruction or absorption
of a sound wave by an
object is its path is called a
sonic or sound shadow. This
is perceived as a reduction in
amplitude or volume. The
effect will be greatest when
the sound source, the inthefray.org

absorbing object and the

person hearing the sound are
all aligned.
 Sound Shadows
The sonic shadow is the
region which does not
receive the direct sound as
the head is blocking the
vibration
As humans are binaural
(have two ears), the head
creates a sonic shadow for
the ear further away from
the sound source.

www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk
 Sound Shadows
Animals use the sonic
shadow to determine the
direction of the source of
the sound.
The difference in loudness
and time of arrival of the
sound at each ear can be
interpreted by the brain to
determine location. www.kangaroosofthescrubbybush.com
 Sound Shadows
Many humans will turn their
head when trying to
determine the source of a
sound. Turning the head
increases the difference in
time of arrival at each ear
and increases the ability to
determine location.

www.cochlear.com
 Sound Shadows
The effect has been shown
to be less important than the
split-second time difference
in each if the two ears
receiving the same sound.
Visually impaired people
use the sonic shadow effect,
together with echolocation
and other cues for
orientation. www.lowvision.com
 Hearing Aids
Some people are born with
an inability to hear. Others
may lose their sense of
hearing suddenly or
gradually. The causes of
hearing loss are generally
grouped into such categories
as heredity, diseases,
accidents, prescription drugs,
aging and acoustic trauma.
Some day your partner may hiddenhearingblog.com

tell you that they have

selective hearing loss…. ;)
 Hearing Aids
The most avoidable of these causes is acoustic trauma or
the chronic exposure to sound. Noise-induced hearing loss
(NIHL) may result from a one-time exposure to loud
sound or from repeated exposure to sounds of various
amplitudes over an extended period of time.

www.exceptionalhearing.com
 Hearing Aids
The tympanic membrane may rupture and/or the ear
ossicles could fracture or be displaced by short exposure to
a loud noise such as an explosion.

drugline.org
 Hearing Aids
Short term hearing loss is caused by fatigue of the hair
cells of the cochlea. ‘Ringing’ in the ears is called tinnitus.
It happens when delicate cells inside your ear that send
sound messages to your brain are injured or over-
stimulated. Usually your ears ring for a brief time after
you’ve been exposed to loud noise.

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 Hearing Aids
Continual exposure to
excessive noise (over 85dB)
causes damage to the cilia of
the hair cells. The hair cells
die and are not replaced. If
enough of these cells are
damaged, permanent hearing
loss results. The high
frequency receptors are mashable.com

more often damaged by loud

sound.