The Science of Hearing:
How We Hear and How Our Ears Break
This module covers the following concepts:
The ear is designed to collect air-borne sound vibrations in the outer ear, convert them to mechanical vibrations in the middle ear and ultimately transform the sound energy into electrical signals in the inner ear that are transmitted through the hearing nerve up to the brain where sound is ultimately decoded and understood.
If the sound waves entering the cochlea have enough power, they will disrupt or destroy the hair cells and other structures of the inner ear. This results in a temporary or permanent hearing loss and may also cause tinnitus.
Our ears are amazing! How are you able to recognize the sound of ocean waves? Let’s explore how our ears work and what happens to our ears if we listen too loud for too long.- William “Billy” Hal Martin, Ph.D.
