Exam 4 Hearing Science

Flashcards created from the lecture notes to help with exam preparation.

Sound wave movement

Particles of a medium move parallel to the sound wave, making sound waves longitudinal.

Relationship between period and frequency

The relationship is described by the equation f = 1/T.

Frequency

The number of cycles a sound completes within a given time.

Period of a complex wave

The period of the complex wave is equal to the period of the component wave with the longest period.

Frequency components analysis tool

The best tool for analyzing frequency components of a complex sound is a frequency spectrum.

Information on a spectrogram

The color/shade of the figure provides information about energy.

Function of pinna and ear canal

They collect sound, protect ear from infection, and enhance sound level at the ear drum for specific frequencies.

Separation of inner ear and middle ear

The tympanic membrane separates the inner ear and middle ear.

Tympanic membrane function

The primary function of the tympanic membrane is amplification of sounds.

Tonotopic mechanism of basilar membrane

Base of the BM is stiffer and energized by high frequency sounds, while apex is less stiff and energized by low frequency sounds.

Intensity discrimination threshold

It is the lowest intensity a stimulus can be detected, usually 50% of the time.

Auditory behavior measured in speech perception test

The test measures recognition when listeners repeat back the word spoken.

Most sensitive frequency range for human listeners

The frequency range is typically between 1,000-5,000 Hz.

Hearing thresholds documentation

In clinical settings, an audiogram is used to document and communicate hearing thresholds.

Dynamic range

The difference in level between the loudest and quietest sounds that a person can hear.

Minimum audibility curve

Represents the softest sound a person can hear.

Loudness vs intensity

Loudness is a perception variable, and intensity is a stimulus variable.

Phase locking to pure tones

Phase locking works well for sounds below 4k Hz.

Frequency difference limen

Measures discrimination threshold for pitch.

Binaural cue for localization

Interaural level difference is based on intensity difference between ears.

Cone of confusion

In the cone of confusion, binaural cues do not work well.

Speech intelligibility improvement factors

Speech intelligibility improves with more favorable signal-noise ratios, better audibility, and less energetic masking.