1. Pinnacle Eustachian Tube Outer Ear Middle Ear Inner Ear

2. The role of the Outer Ear: • Role of the Outer Ear: funnels sound into the ear • Parts of the outer ear: pinnacle, ear canal, eardrum • A sound wave first enters the outer ear and is funneled by the pinnacle • The sound wave moves through the ear canal to the eardrum • The vibrating air particles in the sound wave make the eardrum vibrate • Vibrations from the eardrum are then transferred to the middle ear • The sound is also absorbed by tiny hairs in the ear canal called cilia

3. The Role of the Middle Ear: • Role of the Middle Ear: amplifies sound • Parts of the middle ear:hammer, anvil, stirrup, semicircular canals (control balance) • There are 3 small bones in the middle ear: the hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup • Each part is given its name based on its shape • The hammer is attached to the eardrum on the inside • As the ear drum vibrates, it causes the hammer next to it to then vibrate • The hammer causes the anvil to vibrate • The anvil causes the stirrup to vibrate • All of these vibrations help to amplify the sound • The vibrations are then transferred to the inner ear

4. The Role of the Inner Ear: • Role of the Inner Ear: converts sound into electrical impulses which are interpreted by the brain • Parts of the inner ear:cochlea, auditory nerve, Eustachian tube • In the inner ear, vibrations are transferred from the stirrup to the cochlea • The cochlea is filled with liquid and tiny hairs that act as nerve fibers • When vibrations move through the fluid, the nerve fibers move and create messages of different pitches • The nerve fibers then join to form one nerve (the auditory nerve) that goes to the brain • The message from the nerve fibers becomes electrical impulses in the auditory nerve • The auditory nerve transmits these impulses to the brain • In the brain, the electrical impulses are interpreted as sound

5. What Causes Hearing Loss? • Undeveloped parts of the ear at birth • Damage or puncture to the eardrum • Infections: • Outer ear-swimmer’s ear; bacterial buildup • Middle ear – bacteria build up behind the eardrum • Inner ear- The Eustachian tube connects the inner ear to the nasal passages in order to drain fluid from the ears and equalize pressure between outside and inside of the body, but when fluid or mucous builds up in the Eustachian tube, it is an easy target for infection. • Exposure to high intensities and high pitches over long periods of time • As a person getsolder, some hairs in the cochlea die and cannot grow back-making it difficult to hear high-frequency sounds

6. Devices that aid in hearing: • Hearing aid- this is an electronic device worn either behind the ear or inside it • It is designed to amplify and modulate sounds for the wearer • Cochlear implant– this is a surgically implanted device that send electrical impulses to the auditory nerves inside the cochlea • This device does not amplify sound but allows an individual to pick up on different pitches which their own cochlea is unable todo

7. Cochlear Implants

8. CIC • Completely In the Canal • Virtually invisible • Smallest model CIC • ITC • In The Canal and • HS • Half Shell • Small and discreet • Additional functions ITC HS • ITE • In The Ear • Widest selection • Comfort features ITE • BTE • Behind The Ear • Can connect to external sound sources (ex TV's) BTE

9. How do you hear? http://www.brainpop.com/health/bodysystems/hearing/