EMM342 Noise and Vibrations

Study Report - Liew Shu Yan 133482

Mechanics of Hearing in Humans

How does sound work?

Sound is a pressure wave, made up of vibrating molecules and requires a medium for its
propagation in space. When a disturbance in pressure is created, sound wave is propagated through
the medium and the particles in the medium oscillates about an equilibrium position. The speed of
propagation of a sound wave is dependent on the temperature. For example, the speed of sound in
air is about 343 m/s at 20◦C and 346 m/s at 25◦C. This is because molecules with higher kinetic energy
can vibrate faster.

Sound waves can be categorized depending on their frequency and intensity (loudness).
Frequency is the speed of the vibration of the particles in the medium, and this is related to the pitch
of musical sounds. Intensity is the amount of energy in the vibration, which is related to the amplitude
of the sound wave and can be measured in decibels. Zero decibels can barely be heard but a 120-
decibel sound is perceived to be loud and painful.

Although any object can produce sound waves by vibrating in air, we may not hear all of them.
Humans have a limited range of hearing, which our ears are only sensitive to sound between the range
of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. Hence, we are unable to hear sounds that are considered infrasonic (below 20Hz)
and ultrasonic (above 20,000Hz).

Mechanics of Hearing

Hearing is a process whereby the vibration in the external environment is transferred to the
ear, and the ear converts the vibration into nerve impulses for the brain to interpret. The ear can
distinguish the pitch and loudness of the sound. For healthy young adults, the hearing range is
between 20Hz to 20,000Hz but as we age, the ability to hear higher frequencies decreases.

The auditory threshold curve here shows the hearing curve for a normal healthy young adult.
The two limits here are the threshold of hearing and the threshold of pain. The threshold of hearing is
the lower limit of sound that a person can hear. This is usually the 0-dB reference level. Consequently,
the threshold of pain is the upper limit of sound at which it becomes unbearable for humans to listen
to due to the pain. Prolonged exposure at this sound pressure level can cause permanent hearing
damage to the listener.
 EMM342 Noise and Vibrations
Study Report - Liew Shu Yan 133482

Transmission of Sound in Ear

The figure below shows the sequence of sound transmission in the components of our human
ear. The components are spilt into the outer ear, middle ear and the inner ear.

The outer ear, which is consisting of the pinna (visible flap) and the concha (funnel) directs
the sound wave into the tympanic membrane (ear drum) through the ear canal. The ear canal
amplifies the sound wave before it reaches the tympanic membrane.

At the middle ear, the tympanic membrane absorbs sound waves from the ear canal and
deflects. The deflection motion of the membrane depends on the frequency of the wave, where a
higher frequency wave will cause faster vibration. Moving on, there are three small bones known as
the ossicles that are behind the tympanic membrane. The bones are known as the malleus, incus and
stapes, which are all balanced by elastic ligaments at a common axis of rotation. The malleus is
attached to the ear drum and the deflection of the ear drum is amplified by leverage until it reaches
the stapes, which acts like a piston, creating standing waves to the fluid of the inner ear at the oval
window.
 EMM342 Noise and Vibrations
Study Report - Liew Shu Yan 133482

At the oval window, the vibration from the stapes created the pressure waves in the cochlea’s
upper part (scala vestibuli). The waves travel through the helicotrema into the cochlea’s lower part
(scala tympani) and dissipate as they hit the round window. Then, the wave motions are transmitted
to the endolymph inside the cochlear duct. Within the cochlea, the different frequencies of complex
sounds are analysed and sorted to be transduced into electrical impulses. This is done at the scala
media, which provides the environment for the organ of Corti and contains the sensory hair cells of
the cochlea. Finally, the hair cells create the electrical impulses to the fibers of the auditory nerves,
and it is transmitted to the brain stem.

Ear Damage

Hearing loss is a decrease in ability to hear or understand speech and sounds. Sometimes,
hearing loss can be temporary but usually most damage is cumulative and results in permanent
hearing loss over time. Damage to any part of the ear can cause hearing loss but loud noise is
particularly harmful to the inner ear. Sudden sounds above 130dB or prolonged exposure to sounds
above 85dB is enough to cause injury to the inner ear.

Since the hair cells in the cochlea are the ones that respond to the mechanical vibrations of
sound and then creates the electrical signal, damage to the hair cells can cause noise induced hearing
loss (NIHL). NIHL can be caused by a one-time loud exposure to sounds like gunshots or it can be
caused by repeated exposure to sounds at various loudness levels for an extended period of time.
These harmful noises can cause the death of the hair cells and the listener will lose their hearing.

Other types of ear damage that can cause hearing loss include rupture of ear drum and
damage to the small muscles surrounding the ossicles. Sometimes, injuries to the head can also be the
cause of hearing loss.
 EMM342 Noise and Vibrations
Study Report - Liew Shu Yan 133482

References

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound

[2] https://www.aplustopper.com/different-types-of-sound/

[3] https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Acoustics/Threshold_of_Hearing/Pain

[4] https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ap1/chapter/audition-and-somatosensation/

[5] https://www.macmillanihe.com/resources/sample-chapters/9780333993644_sample.pdf

[6] https://www.britannica.com/science/ear/Transmission-of-sound-within-the-inner-ear

[7] https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss