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Hearing

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.

Auditory Perception

Auditory Perception

The auditory system is essential for sound perception, utilizing various critical structures. When sound waves enter the outer ear, they travel through the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the middle ear, where three tiny bones – the malleus, incus, and stapes – amplify the sound. This amplification is crucial, as it ensures that the sound vibrations are strong enough to be conveyed to the inner ear. These vibrations then reach the...

Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location

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...

Anatomy of the Ear

Anatomy of the Ear

Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...

The Cochlea

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.

Perception of Sound Waves

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses

Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses

Published on: January 23, 2017

Audiometry and other hearing tests.

¹Department of Neuro-otology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology

|September 18, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The pure-tone audiogram is a standard hearing test for adults, distinguishing between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. Advanced central auditory tests are now available to assess complex auditory pathway dysfunctions when basic tests are normal.

Keywords:

auditory neuropathy auditory processing disorders auditory threshold cochlea conductive hearing loss evaluation genetic hearing impairment middle ear otoscopy tuning fork tympanometry

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Last Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Behavioral Assessment of Hearing in 2 to 4 Year-old Children: A Two-interval, Observer-based Procedure Using Conditioned Play-based Responses

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Published on: January 25, 2016

Area of Science:

Audiology
Neuroscience
Otolaryngology

Background:

The pure-tone audiogram is the established screening test for peripheral auditory system function in adults.
It differentiates between conductive (outer/middle ear) and sensorineural (cochlear) hearing loss.
Electrophysiologic tests like auditory brainstem response aid in identifying lesions in the auditory nerve and central pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the established methods for assessing auditory system function.
To highlight the development and utility of central auditory tests.
To address hearing dysfunctions not identified by standard audiograms.

Main Methods:

Review of established audiological and electrophysiological testing protocols.
Discussion of the diagnostic capabilities of pure-tone audiometry.
Introduction to the advancements in central auditory pathway testing.

Main Results:

Pure-tone audiometry effectively characterizes peripheral hearing loss severity and type.
Auditory brainstem response is valuable for detecting central auditory pathway lesions.
Recent central auditory tests offer detailed assessment of pathways, even with normal audiograms.

Conclusions:

Peripheral hearing tests are well-established for initial assessment.
Central auditory tests provide crucial insights into complex auditory processing disorders.
A comprehensive approach utilizing both peripheral and central tests is essential for diagnosing diverse hearing dysfunctions.