Speech & Hearing Final

Bony labyrinth

Part of the cochlea containing perilymph.

Membranous labyrinth

Part of the cochlea containing endolymph.

Cochlea

Part of the inner ear responsible for hearing.

Semicircular canals

Part of the inner ear involved in balance.

Localization

Function of the outer ear that is more sensitive to sound in front.

Protection

Function of the outer ear involving shape, earwax, and length.

Auditory CNS

The neural pathways from the brainstem to the temporal lobe where final processing of hearing occurs.

Vowel perception

Based on the spacing of the formants.

Acoustic cues of semivowels

Voiced sounds with formant transitions that change when they precede or follow a vowel.

Neural Pathway

Part of the auditory CNS involved in transmitting auditory information.

Intensity translation in the Cochlea

A larger area of the organ of Corti is stimulated, causing a wider range of hair cells to fire.

Fricatives

Characterized by an extended period of noise, aperiodic nature, and high frequency sounds with low intensity (2-4KHz).

Intensity

Heard as loudness.

Function of the IE

Transforms mechanical energy from the ME into electrochemical energy for brain interpretation by analyzing intensity and frequency.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Relates to the inner ear or 8th nerve, involving damage to sensory cells or nerves, often permanent.

Function of the IE

As stapes rocks the oval window, it displaces endolymph and perilymph in SHM, moving the organ of Corti and bending hair cells to transmit electrical signals to the CNS.

Periodic speech sounds

Characterized by a repeatable pattern with phonation (f0 + harmonics), including voiced sounds, vowels, and voiced consonants.

Tube resonance of the ear canal

Calculated as TL = 2.5 cm, resulting in R1 = 3440 Hz.

Frequency

Heard as pitch.

Intensity of speech

Carries the volume.

Function of the ME

Involves impedance matching and equalizing pressure in the ME and OE, converting acoustic to mechanical energy.

Acoustic cues of affricates

Characterized by silence, a rapid burst, and an extended period of aperiodic noise.

Frequency of speech

Carries the meaning of speech.

Acoustic cues of nasals

Involves a decrease in intensity due to lesser oral resonance and nasal resonance in the 250-500 Hz range.

Acoustic cues of stops

Characterized by silence due to airflow stoppage followed by a burst of noise.

Acoustic cues of vowels

Voiced sounds that are the highest intensity, with a relatively open VT and the longest duration, requiring the first 2 formants for identification.

Aperiodic speech sounds

Characterized as noise and includes all voiceless sounds.

Calculate tube length given resonance

For R1 = 4000 Hz, TL = 2.2 cm.

Parts of the ME

Includes the tympanic membrane, enclosed ME space, ossicles, and Eustachian tube.

Conductive hearing loss

Relates to the OE and ME, involving problems with sound transmission to the IE, such as wax or otitis media.

Organ of Corti

Located in the membranous labyrinth of the cochlea.

Parts of the OE

Includes the auricle/pinna and ear canal.