Human

Auditory
System
 Receptor organ for Hearing
The auditory system processes how we hear and understand sounds within the environment.
• It is made up of peripheral structures (e.g., outer, middle, and inner ear).
• Brain regions (cochlear nuclei, superior olivary nuclei, lateral lemniscus, inferior colliculus, medial
geniculate nuclei, and auditory cortex).
Sound & Ear:
The human auditory system enables us to hear and interpret many kinds of information
like :
•Birds chirping.
•Falling trees.
•Wind blowing.
•Movement of water in river & lakes.
 Physics &
Psychology of
sound:
Sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a
transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
Sound vary in amplitude & Frequency.
1.Amplitude:
Amplitude is the relative strength of sound waves (transmitted vibrations), which
we perceive as loudness or volume.
2.Frequency: Frequency range of human
ear:
The frequency of a wave is the The human auditory system is
number of waves that pass by sensitive to sound frequencies
each second. between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz.
•This range of hearing is
•Relation b/w pitch & influenced by age, occupation
frequency: and gender.

Pitch of a sound depends upon

its frequency.

•If frequency increases , pitch

also increases.
•Low-frequency sound
waves are perceived as low-
pitched sounds.
 Pitch & Loudness
Distinguishes a shrill sound from a grave sound. Loudness:
1.Shrill sound. Loudness depends on the
• Thin sound. energy of sound.
• Produce high frequency. • Greater the sound
Example: energy , larger the
Voice of women , birds , cats. loudness.
2. Grave sound: Factors: Loudness
• Thick sound depends upon three factors:
• Produce low frequency. 1. Area of vibrating object.
Example: 2. Medium.
Sound of men , dog , frog. 3. Distance from source.
 Structure of Human Ear
Ear is a sensitive organ of the human body.
It is mainly concerned with detecting, transmitting and transducing sound.
The human ear consists of three parts:
•External ear
•Middle ear
•Internal ear
 External Ear
● The outer ear is made up of cartilage and skin.
The external ear is further divided into the following parts:
1. Auricle (Pinna)
The auricle (pinna) is the visible portion of the outer ear. It
collects sound waves and channels them into the ear canal
(external auditory meatus), where the sound is amplified
2.Auditory canal
● Lined with skin that extends to cover the tympanic
membrane
● Internal acoustic meatus , is a bony canal
3. Tympanic Membrane ( Ear-drum):
This membrane separates the middle ear and the external ear. This part receives and
amplifies the sound waves.
Middle Ear
 1. Tympanic membrane
• It is a narrow air-filled cavity
• The tympanic membrane vibrates as it encounters sound

2. Ear Ossicles
transmitting sound waves from the eardrum to the middle ear.
• Malleus
• Incus
• Stapes

3. Eustachian tube
The Eustachian tube is a 4cm long tube that equalizes air pressure on
either side of the tympanic membrane.

• It connects the tympanic cavity with the nasopharynx .

Inner Ear

The inner ear is just beyond the

middle ear, in a small hole in the
temporal bones that help make up
the sides of your skull.
Inner ear has three main parts:
•Cochlea
•semi-circular canals (labyrinth)
 Cochlea
•The cochlea is a fluid-filled (snail shell) , spiral-shaped cavity , it plays a
vital role in the sense of hearing.
Semi-circular canal

The semi-circular canals are three tiny,

fluid-filled tubes in the inner ear that
help you keep your balance.
 How sound is produced?
Auditory
Ear drum
Ossicle nerve
Outer ear bones 
Brain
( Pinna) fluid in
cochlea
 Hearing Loss

• Also known as hearing impairment of deafness.

• It is a partial or complete decrease in a person‘s ability
to hear sounds.
• Range from mild to profound and can effect one or both
ears.
 Symptoms of Hearing Loss

1. Muffling of speech and other sounds.

2. Trouble understanding words, especially when in a
crowd or a noisy place.
3. Trouble hearing the letters of the alphabet that
aren't vowels.
4. Often asking others to speak more slowly, clearly
and loudly.
5. Needing to turn up the volume of the television or
radio.
6. Staying clear of some social settings.
7. Being bothered by background noise.
8. Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus.
 Causes of Hearing loss
● Damage to the inner ear. Aging and loud noise can cause wear and tear on
the hairs or nerve cells in the cochlea that send sound signals to the brain.
Damaged or missing hairs or nerve cells don't send electrical signals well.
This causes hearing loss.
● Higher pitched tones may seem muffled. It may be hard to pick out words
against background noise.
● Build-up of earwax. Over time, earwax can block the ear canal and keep
sound waves from passing through. Earwax removal can help restore
hearing.
● Ear infection or unusual bone growths or tumour's. In the outer or
middle ear, any of these can cause hearing loss.
● Other factors include genetics, exposure to loud noises.
 Types of Hearing loss
Conductive Hearing Loss
● A conductive hearing loss is a hearing loss
where the ear’s ability to conduct sound from Sensorineural Hearing Loss
the outer ear and middle ear into the inner ear ● Sensorineural hearing loss is a type of
is blocked or reduced hearing loss that occurs due to damage or
● Short duration hearing loss abnormalities in the inner ear (cochlea) or
● It can be treated the auditory nerve pathways to the brain.
● Any kind of blockage in outer ear preventing ● inner ear's hair cells or the auditory nerve
conduction of sound into inner ear. is damaged, it's challenging for the body
● conductive hearing loss can occur in just one to repair or regenerate them.
ear (unilateral hearing loss) or in both ears ( ● Permanent hearing loss
bilateral hearing loss). ● Improved by hearing aids or cochlear
● Treatments include use of Hearing instruments implant.
such as hearing aids or hearing implants e.g., ● Caused by Absence or damage of hair
bone conduction devices and Surgery cells in the inner ear e.g. in the cochlea or
auditory nerves.
Tinnitus & Phantom Limb Phenomenon
• Nerve deafness often result in tinnitus (ringing in the ear).
• Tinnitus is the perception of sound, often described as ringing,
buzzing, hissing, or other noises, in the ears when there is no
external sound source.
• It is often influence by factors like jaw clenching or neck muscle
tension.
• It is usually related to issues in the auditory system, such as
damage to the inner ear, exposure to loud noises, or other
underlying medical conditions.
• The phantom limb phenomenon, on the other hand, is a
sensation that an amputated or missing limb is still present and can
sometimes be felt or painful.
• Both conditions involve the brain's perception of something that
isn't physically present.