Pinnacle

Eustachian Tube

Outer Ear Middle Ear Inner Ear

The role of the Outer Ear:The role of the Outer Ear: Role of the Outer EarRole of the Outer Ear:: funnels sound into the ear funnels sound into the ear Parts of the outer earParts of the outer ear: : pinnacle, ear canal, eardrumpinnacle, ear canal, eardrum A sound wave first enters the outer ear and is A sound wave first enters the outer ear and is

funneledfunneled by the pinnacle by the pinnacle The sound wave moves through the The sound wave moves through the ear canal to the ear canal to the

eardrumeardrum The The vibrating air particlesvibrating air particles in the sound wave make in the sound wave make

the the eardrum vibrateeardrum vibrate Vibrations from the eardrum are then transferred to Vibrations from the eardrum are then transferred to

the the middle earmiddle ear The sound is also The sound is also absorbedabsorbed by by tiny hairstiny hairs in the ear in the ear

canal called canal called ciliacilia

The Role of the Middle Ear:The Role of the Middle Ear: Role of the Middle EarRole of the Middle Ear:: amplifies sound amplifies sound Parts of the middle ear:Parts of the middle ear: hammer, anvil, stirrup, hammer, anvil, stirrup,

semicircular canalssemicircular canals (control balance) (control balance) There are 3 small There are 3 small bonesbones in the middle ear: the in the middle ear: the

hammerhammer, the , the anvilanvil,, and the and the stirrupstirrup Each part is given its name based on its Each part is given its name based on its shapeshape The hammer is attached to the eardrum on the insideThe hammer is attached to the eardrum on the inside As the ear drum vibrates, it causes the hammer next As the ear drum vibrates, it causes the hammer next

to it to then vibrateto it to then vibrate The hammer causes the anvil to vibrate The hammer causes the anvil to vibrate The anvil causes the stirrup to vibrateThe anvil causes the stirrup to vibrate All of these All of these vibrations help to amplifyvibrations help to amplify the sound the sound The vibrations are then The vibrations are then transferred to the inner eartransferred to the inner ear

The Role of the Inner Ear:The Role of the Inner Ear: Role of the Inner EarRole of the Inner Ear:: converts sound into electrical impulses converts sound into electrical impulses

which are interpreted by the brainwhich are interpreted by the brain Parts of the inner ear:Parts of the inner ear: cochlea, auditory nerve, Eustachian cochlea, auditory nerve, Eustachian

tubetube In the inner ear, vibrations are transferred from the In the inner ear, vibrations are transferred from the stirrup to stirrup to

the cochleathe cochlea The cochlea is filled with The cochlea is filled with liquidliquid and tiny hairs that act as and tiny hairs that act as nerve nerve

fibersfibers When vibrations move through the fluid, the When vibrations move through the fluid, the nerve fibers movenerve fibers move

and create messages of and create messages of different pitchesdifferent pitches The nerve fibers then join to form one nerve The nerve fibers then join to form one nerve (the auditory (the auditory

nerve)nerve) that goes to the that goes to the brain brain The message from the nerve fibers The message from the nerve fibers becomes becomes electrical electrical

impulsesimpulses in the auditory nerve in the auditory nerve The auditory nerve The auditory nerve transmitstransmits these these impulses to the brainimpulses to the brain In the brain, the electrical impulses are In the brain, the electrical impulses are interpreted as soundinterpreted as sound

What Causes Hearing Loss?What Causes Hearing Loss? Undeveloped partsUndeveloped parts of the ear at birth of the ear at birth Damage or Damage or puncturepuncture to the eardrum to the eardrum Infections:Infections:

Outer ear-Outer ear- swimmer’s earswimmer’s ear; bacterial buildup; bacterial buildup Middle earMiddle ear – bacteria build up – bacteria build up behind the eardrumbehind the eardrum Inner ear-Inner ear- The The Eustachian tubeEustachian tube connects the inner ear to connects the inner ear to

the nasal passages in order to the nasal passages in order to drain fluiddrain fluid from the ears from the ears and equalize pressure between outside and inside of the and equalize pressure between outside and inside of the body, but when fluid or mucous builds up in the Eustachian body, but when fluid or mucous builds up in the Eustachian tube, it is an tube, it is an easy target for infectioneasy target for infection..

Exposure to Exposure to high intensitieshigh intensities and and high pitcheshigh pitches over over long periods of timelong periods of time

As a person getsAs a person gets olderolder, some , some hairs in the cochlea hairs in the cochlea die and cannot growdie and cannot grow back-making it difficult to hear back-making it difficult to hear high-frequency soundshigh-frequency sounds

Devices that aid in hearing:Devices that aid in hearing:

Hearing aid-Hearing aid- this is an electronic device worn this is an electronic device worn either behind the ear or inside iteither behind the ear or inside it

It is designed to It is designed to amplifyamplify and and modulatemodulate sounds sounds for the wearerfor the wearer

Cochlear implantCochlear implant– this is a – this is a surgically surgically implantedimplanted device device that send electrical impulses that send electrical impulses to the to the auditory nervesauditory nerves inside the cochlea inside the cochlea

This device does not amplify sound but allows This device does not amplify sound but allows an individual to an individual to pick up on different pitchespick up on different pitches which their own cochlea is unable towhich their own cochlea is unable to dodo

Cochlear ImplantsCochlear Implants

CIC •Completely In the Canal•Virtually invisible•Smallest model

ITC•In The Canal and HS•Half Shell•Small and discreet•Additional functions

ITE •In The Ear•Widest selection•Comfort features

BTE•Behind The Ear•Can connect to external sound sources (ex TV's)

CIC

ITCHS

ITE

BTE

How do you hear?How do you hear?

http://www.brainpop.com/health/bodhttp://www.brainpop.com/health/bodysystems/hearing/ysystems/hearing/