Human hearing

The structure and function of the ear

The structure of the ear can be
divided into three main parts: the
outer ear, the middle ear and the
inner ear. The outer structure of the
ear is responsible for helping us
place the original location of a
sound source. It also helps to funnel
and focus sound waves on their way
to the middle ear and auditory
canal. The middle ear contains the
auditory canal, which terminates in
the eardrum, or tympanic membrane. Attached to the other side of the eardrum,
in a small space of air, are three tiny bones which then attach to a fluid-filled
structure called the cochlea of the inner ear at a point called the oval window. It
is in the cochlea that the vibrations transmitted from the eardrum through the
tiny bones are converted into electrical impulses sent along the auditory nerve to
the brain. The inner ear, which is surrounded by bone, also contains semicircular
canals, which function more for purposes for equilibrium than hearing. The chain
of ossicles can be stiffened or muted by a contraction of the stapedius muscle.
This provides a form of protection against loud sustained sounds, but not sharp
sudden ones, such as a gunshot. This reflex is far less efficient in older people,
which along with differing tastes may explain their lower tolerance to louder
music as well as an increased risk level for hearing loss.
The most fascinating aspect of perception takes place in an area of the cochlea
called the basilar membrane. The cochlea is a tapered tube, which circles around
itself like the scroll on a violin. The basilar membrane divides the tube lengthwise
into two fluid-filled canals, which are joined at the tapered end. The ossicles
transmit the vibration to the cochlea where they attach at the oval window. The
resultant waves travel down the basilar membrane where they are sensed by
approximately 16 20,000 hair cells attached to it which poke up from a third
canal called the organ of Corti. It is the organ of Corti that transforms the
stimulated hair cells into nerve impulses. Because of the tapered design of
cochlea, waveforms travelling down the basilar membrane peak in amplitude at
differing spots along the way according to their frequency. Higher frequencies
peak out at a shorter distance down the tube than lower frequencies. The hair
cells at that peak point give us a sense of that particular frequency it is thought
that a single musical pitch is perceived by 10 12 hair cells. Due the tapered
shape of the cochlea, the distance between pitches follows the same logarithmic
distance as our perception of pitch. This arrangement is responsible for the fact
that a higher frequency can mask or hide a lower one, but a lower one can mask
a higher one.
The limits of hearing

The threshold of hearing is the Sound pressure level (SPL). The absolute
threshold of hearing is the minimum amplitude of a pure tone that the average
ear with normal hearing can hear in a noiseless environment. On the other hand,
the threshold of pain is the SPL beyond which sound becomes unbearable for a
human listener. This threshold varies only slightly with frequency. The table
below shows the different values for the threshold of pain.

Threshold of pain
SPL:

Sound pressure:

120 dB

20 Pa

130 dB

63 Pa

134 dB

100 Pa

137.5 dB

150 Pa

140 dB

200 Pa

The average person can hear sounds down to about 0dB, the level of rustling
leaves. Some people with very good hearing can hear sounds down to -15dB. If a
sounds reaches 85dB or stronger, it can cause permanent damage to your
hearing.
Psychoacoustics
Psychoacoustics is the branch of psychology, with the perception of sound and
its physiological effects.
The Haas effect or the
Precedence Effect is a
psychoacoustic effect
described by Helmut Haas as
the ability of our ears to localise
sounds coming from anywhere
around us. This can be
demonstrated using a modulation delay effect in Pro Tools.
The cocktail party effect is the phenomenon of being able to focus ones auditory
attention on a particular stimulus while filtering out a range of other stimuli; the
same way that a partygoer can focus on a single conversation in a noisy room.
The auditory masking effect occurs when the perception of one sound is affected
by the presence of another. The unmasked threshold is the quietest level of the
signal which can be perceived without a masking signal present. The masked
threshold is the quietest level of the signal perceived when combined with a

specific masking noise. The amount of masking is the difference between the
masked and unmasked thresholds.
With tuning instruments that can produce sustained tones, beats can readily be
recognised. Tuning two tones to a unison will present a peculiar effect: when the
two tones are close in pitch but not identical, the difference in frequency
generates the beating. The volume varies like a tremolo as the sounds
alternately interfere constructively and destructively. As the two tones gradually
approach unison, the beating slows down and may become so slow as to be
unnoticeable.
The Doppler effect on the other hand, is an increase (or decrease) in the
frequency of sound,
light, or other waves
as the source and
observer move towards (or
away
from) each other. The effect
causes the sudden change in
pitch noticeable in a passing
siren, as well as the
red shift seen by
astronomers.

Health and safety

Ear monitors and headphone monitors do not generally meet the necessary
criteria to be categorised as personal hearing protection devices, although some
workers in the music
and entertainment sector may wrongly consider
them to be. However,
IEMS and headphone monitors play a valuable role
in reducing the risk of
hearing damage as they allow a reduced
level of
reproduced sound on stages and in other
work areas.
Personal hearing protection should be used
where extra
protection is needed above what can be
achieved
using noise control and as a short-term
measure
while other more permanent solutions are
being sought. To
be of value, hearing protection needs to: control
the risks, not overprotect, reduce the noise level to no less than
about 70dB, be more comfortable and suitable for the working environment, be
properly used, be worn at the right time, and be properly maintained.
By Akai. M