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Related Concept Videos

Unrenewable Cells00:50

Unrenewable Cells

In humans, the photoreceptor cells of the eye and sensory hair cells of the ear lack stem cells. These cells are thus unrenewable and cannot be replaced when they are damaged or destroyed.
Photoreceptors
The retina is composed of several layers and contains specialized cells called photoreceptors. The photoreceptors (rods and cones) change their membrane potential when stimulated by light energy. There are two types of photoreceptors—rods and cones—which differ in the shape of their outer...
Hearing01:31

Hearing

When we hear a sound, our nervous system is detecting sound waves—pressure waves of mechanical energy traveling through a medium. The frequency of the wave is perceived as pitch, while the amplitude is perceived as loudness.
Perception of Sound Waves01:01

Perception of Sound Waves

The human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies in the audible range. It may perceive sound waves with the same pressure but different frequencies as having different loudness. Moreover, the perception of sound waves depends on the health of an individual's ears, which decays with age. The health of one's ears may also be affected by regular exposure to loud noises.
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...
Sound Intensity Level00:53

Sound Intensity Level

Humans perceive sound by hearing. The human ear helps sound waves reach the brain, which then interprets the waves and creates the perception of hearing. The loudness of the environment in which a person is located determines whether they can distinguish between different sound sources.
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and hence a...
The Cochlea01:13

The Cochlea

The cochlea is a coiled structure in the inner ear that contains hair cells—the sensory receptors of the auditory system. Sound waves are transmitted to the cochlea by small bones attached to the eardrum called the ossicles, which vibrate the oval window that leads to the inner ear. This causes fluid in the chambers of the cochlea to move, vibrating the basilar membrane.
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location01:21

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

The human brain perceives pitch through two primary mechanisms reflected in place theory and frequency theory. Each mechanism describes how sound waves are interpreted as specific pitches by the brain, offering insights into the intricate processes of auditory perception.
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...

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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
09:44

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Published on: January 25, 2016

How well can centenarians hear?

Zhongping Mao1, Lijun Zhao, Lichun Pu

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, P. R. China. mzp575@gmail.com

Plos One
|June 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Centenarians experience significant hearing loss, with over 90% showing moderate to profound deficits. This study provides the first audiological assessment of hearing function in individuals aged 100 and older.

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Modified Experimental Conditions for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Mice and Assessment of Hearing Function and Outer Hair Cell Damage

Published on: February 10, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Audiology
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • The global elderly population, including centenarians, is rapidly expanding.
  • Presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) affects a significant portion of older adults, but data on centenarians is lacking.
  • Understanding hearing function in centenarians is crucial for their quality of life and healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct the first audiological assessment of middle and inner ear function in centenarians.
  • To determine the prevalence and severity of hearing loss in individuals aged 100 years and older.
  • To evaluate middle ear impedance, pure-tone behavioral thresholds, and otoacoustic emissions in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated 74 centenarians in Shaoxing, China.
  • Measured middle ear impedance using tympanometry.
  • Assessed hearing thresholds with pure-tone audiometry.
  • Recorded distortion-product otoacoustic emissions to evaluate cochlear outer hair cell function.

Main Results:

  • Most centenarians exhibited an "As" type tympanogram, indicating reduced tympanic membrane compliance.
  • All participants displayed varying degrees of hearing loss.
  • Over 90% had moderate to severe hearing loss below 2,000 Hz and profound loss at 4,000 and 8,000 Hz.
  • Otoacoustic emissions were undetectable in most participants.

Conclusions:

  • Centenarians experience widespread and severe hearing loss affecting both middle and inner ear functions.
  • This study establishes the audiological profile of centenarians, highlighting significant age-related auditory decline.
  • Findings underscore the need for audiological support and interventions for the oldest old.