2. Hearing

Sensation and Perception

How is hearing different in animals and humans?

• Animals tend to hear MUCH better than humans, however…–Humans use sound to

CREATE MEANING more extensively than any other species

Anatomy of the Ear

How do we hear?1. Sound waves strike the eardrum,causing

vibration. 2. The hammer, anvil and stirrup hit each

other, carrying the vibration to the inner ear3. Vibrations trigger fluid in the cochlea

• The cochlea is divided lengthwise by the basilar membrane, which houses the receptor cells for hearing

• These receptor cells send the message to the brain to HEAR through the sensory nerves

Hearing Loss as we Age• 28,000,000 Americans suffer hearing

loss

– Top 3 causes of hearing loss:

1. Untreated childhood ear infections

2. Long-term exposure to loud noise (air traffic controllers and machinists, etc)

3. SMOKING- yes, it is bad for you!

Love Language- The Jubilee Project

Deaf Culture and the NAD• Cochlear Implants have corrected hearing loss in

millions, however, the National Association for the Deaf does NOT support medical reversal of hearing loss

– NAD believes hearing loss is an example of human diversity, which contains its own unique culture

– Doctors should NOT reverse hearing loss

• Usually supported by deaf parents of deaf children, but not by hearing parents of deaf children