Mi ch.3

What is the function of the tympanic membrane?

The tympanic membrane or eardrum vibrates when it encounters sound the air, transmitting them to the auditory ossicles.

What structures are included in the middle ear?

the hammer (malleus), the anvil (incus) and the stirrup (stapes), the oval window, the round window and the Eustrachian tube.

What is sensorineural hearing loss? What parts of the ear/structures are affected? Repairable?

Damage and loss of hearing to the structures in the inner ear such as the cochlea and vestibulocochlear nerve. This is permanent, only through the aid of hearing aids or a cochlear implant can some hearing function be restored.

What is the role of an audiologist? How are audiograms read?

Diagnoses and treats hearing and balance problems, they are read comparing it to a standard decibel chart and checking bone conduction in each ear

18. What are the pro arguments of the cochlear implant debate?

I can help someone to ear better or at all. It will help their communication with others, seeing that they can now communicate verbally

When are hearing aids not an optional intervention?

If they have severe hearing loss, profound nerve deafness or sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.

How do hearing aids function?

Receives sounds through a microphone that then converts it to electrical signals and sends them to an amplifier.

What type of hearing loss do cochlear implants help with? What structures must be unaffected for this intervention to be successful?

Sensorineural hearing loss, you must have severe hearing loss that it affects daily communication

19. What are the con arguments of the cochlear implant debate?

Some deaf people might no want a cochlear implant because it will take them out of the deaf community, they also don't see it as a disability. It will also leave them with moderate hearing loss.

17. What is the path that sound travels in the ear? (Draw a picture or flow diagram)

Sound waves enter the outer ear and travel through a narrow passageway called the ear canal, which leads to the eardrum. The eardrum vibrates from the incoming sound waves and sends these vibrations to three tiny bones in the middle ear. These bones are called the malleus, incus, and stapes.

What is the function of the cochlea?

The cochlea produces nerve impulses in response to sound being transmitted to it from the middle ear.

How does loud music damage hearing? Specifically what structure(s) are affected?

The loud noise can damage cells and membranes in the cochlea by overworking the cells, resulting in their death

What is the function of the ossicles? List them and their common name.

The ossicles are the three small bones of the middle ear, actually among the smallest bones in the body [Malleus (Hammer), Incus (anvil), Stapes (Stirrup)]. These bones transmit sound from the air in the auditory canal to the cochlea (fluid filled medium).

Where are the sensory hair cells located? What is their function?

The sensory hair cells are located in the inner ear (cochlea), they function as a way to detect sound and head motion to start the process of hearing and control of balance.

What is the function of the vestibule? What is another name for the vestibule?

The vestibule (part of the bony labyrinth) helps to detect the head position with the fluid filled within, it responds to gravity and your position.

What is conductive hearing loss? What parts of the ear/structures are affected? Repairable?

Where there is a problem in the transfer of sound waves anywhere along the auditory canal (the outer to the middle ear structures like the tympanic membrane or ossicles). It can be corrected to a degree through the use of hearing aids, there are also some medical and surgical procedures available

What structures are included in the outer ear?

ear cannal, outer ear, pinna

What structures are included in the inner ear?

the cochlea, which is involved in hearing, and the vestibular system