Illustrated and animated lesson

1. The Sense of Hearing
By
Dean Berry, Ed. D.
The Teachers’ Choice Library

2. Chilling out to our favorite sounds is a soothing pleasure. The sense of
hearing is known to stimulate our neurons while also relaxing our body.
Do you think music reduces stress?

3. Unfortunately, music that is extremely loud can be very annoying.
Under these circumstances, music can increase stress and interrupt
mental functioning.

4. Are there any negative consequences to listening
to loud music? Are these consequences obvious to
the listener?

5. Hearing loss can occur very slowly as one ages. Why do you think
the exterior ears have such an odd shape?

6. Our inner ear is where the processing of sound begins. An
eardrum(membrane) and three tiny bones called the hammer,
the anvil, and the stirrup receive sound vibrations and send
them to the cochlea, a snail shaped part of the inner ear.

7. Sound waves enter our exterior ear canal, press against the eardrum,
travel through the three tiny bones, enter the cochlea and stimulate
hundreds of nerve fibers which transmit the auditory messages to the
brain.

8. When vibrations create electrical messages in the inner
ear, neurons carry those messages through the acoustic
nerve into temporal lobes of the brain which are located
directly above each ear.

9. The auditory cortex in the temporal lobe of the brain
receives the electrical signals and interprets how we
will perceive the sounds that enter our ears and how
our body will respond.

10. Sound waves are produced by vibrations of different
lengths and frequencies. As the vibrations enter our
ear canal, they make our ear drum vibrate.

11. The high frequency sound waves are closer together and
the low frequency waves, bass sound, are slower and
further apart. Which frequencies do you think would
cause speakers to vibrate the most.

12. The inner ear is an organ that is responsible for the sense of
hearing and the maintenance of balance. Unfortunately,
sometimes the external or internal ear can develop problems.

13. Do you know anyone who has experienced “ringing in the
ears”? Tinnitus is a very annoying, continuous sound that has nothing to do
with external sound waves. It may be caused by many different types of
damage to the auditory system. However, exposure to very loud noise and
aging are linked to many cases of tinnitus.

14. Lot’s of people have developed swimmer’s ear. When water gets
trapped in the ear canal, bacteria can thrive causing inflammation,
reduced hearing, and pain. Antibiotics may be necessary to quell a
bacterial infection. Although, preventative action such as ear plugs or
rubbing alcohol in the ears are smart preventative measures to take.

15. Some people may experience dizziness and a feeling that things are
spinning around them. This condition is known as vertigo and can last for
a few seconds or be a longer term issue. The causes usually originate in
the inner ear canal. Most of the time, the condition is minor and can be
easily treated.

16. Our exterior ear canal is lubricated and protected
by a fatty wax substance. What happens if
too much wax builds up in an ear?

17. If ear wax reduces hearing or causes discomfort, it can be removed by
adding a few drops of olive oil or baby oil. Irrigation of the outer ear
canal can also help reduce ear wax. When the build up of wax is a
serious problem, a visit to the doctor’s office is necessary. What
might happen if you use a paper clip or Q-tip to
clean out your ear?

18. What can happen if you listen to loud sounds or
loud music too much? Does the amplitude or
duration make a significant difference?

19. If you love to listen to music, protect your hearing by turning down the
volume. Using headsets or ear buds increases the likelihood that loud
music will create serious damage.

20. What is the leading cause of hearing
loss? What are some other causes?

21. Group Discussion
Meet in groups and discuss the following.
1. How do the outer and inner ear work to produce
sound?
2. What are some potential problems that can develop in
the ear?

22. Prepare to Write
Write a short explanatory essay describing
how the ear works and the kinds of problems
that can develop in the ear.