How Sound Travels Through the Ear

The ear has a number of important components that aid sound transmission. Sounds move in a wave-like pattern, creating vibrations in the outer ear that are funneled into the auditory canal, which leads to the eardrum (NIDCD Information Clearinghouse, 2018). The eardrum vibrates as sound waves strike it. The eardrum will vibrate more as the sound becomes more strong. The vibrations then go to the middle ear, which is made up of three separate bones: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. The strength of the vibrations originating from the eardrum is increased by these bones. The inner ear is in charge of converting sound waves into a form that can be easily conveyed to the brain. The cochlea and the basilar membrane are structures found inside the inner ear that split the ear into upper and lower chambers. Hair cells cover the basilar membrane, and when these hair cells bend because of vibrations from the cochlea, they send messages to the brain.

What Other Senses Were Employed, and How Were They Employed

I relied on sight, smell, touch, and when required, taste to compensate for my loss of hearing. When you can't hear, things are a lot different; you have to be much more aware of what's going on around you. During my 15-30 minute observation, I began to make dinner, which is where I smelled and saw. Instead of using my hearing to listen to what I was cooking on the stove to decide when it was done, I had to watch my food cook until it was done. Then came the senses of taste and smell. The purpose of the taste test was to ensure that everything I cooked for dinner was flavorful and completely cooked. The fragrance was to ensure that dinner didn't burn at any point during the cooking process. My eyes were also used while I was making dinner and watching a movie. Because I couldn't hear, I relied on the television's subtitles to fill in for what I couldn't hear.............. Continue