LESSON FOUR: HEARING OR LISTENING
We are blessed with the ability to hear with our ears - it consists of the physics of sound and the structure and function of the outer, middle, and inner ears; nerves that go to the brain and the areas of the brain involved in processing acoustic information.
However, we should all reflect and ask ourselves, how often do we tend to hear but not listen to one another?
Many of us hear the words but do not actively listen and respond based upon our interpretations. The difference between hearing and listening is understanding and respect. The anatomy of the ear is fascinating and, the process in how sound can be transmitted is reflective in a loop manner.
Sound can be transmitted through different materials: solid, liquid or gas. There are no molecules present in a vacuum which allows no production of sound. However, a material such as a spoon can create vibrations from the air molecules to produce the sound wave.
Some areas of the sound can be compressed or squashed together, whereas other areas of sound are more separated (rarefaction) caused by low pressure. The pressure difference can be determined by how loud the sound would be; the greater the amplitude, the faster the vibration and the higher the pitch. Sound waves are measured as Hertz (cycles per second) – we can hear between 20 – 20,000 Hz.
Higher pressure in the transmission of sound can cause interpretations without clarification and a buildup of misunderstanding unnecessarily?
In society today, we fail to listen TO each other instead they listen AT each other? This can occur in any culture, age, gender, status, and experience. Hearing does not improve well-being but listening does. It involves receiving the information, understanding, remembering, evaluating, and responding effectively.
“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self. ” Dean Jackson
Active listening to one another is a form of empathy on both sides than one side rather than hearing without affection. This can strengthen any relationship whether a patient, student, relative, friend, colleague or any form of relation allowing the transmission of the sound to be effective.
Even during the moments of anger or upset, the pitches (frequency) and the amplitude causes the recipient to misunderstand and tend to look and interpret the body language, facial expression and tone.
We tend to fail in society because we do not know the impact of our words and actions. We just need to try and remove the wax (negativity) and not allow the information to be processed to prevent cause and effect. Listening is the attitude of the heart.
So how can we hear?
The sound waves enter the external auditory canal - the outer ear (pinna, auricle) and the external auditory canal help amplify and direct the sound. The sound waves from the side and end of the external auditory canal are filled with vibrations from the pressure. This causes the sound vibrations to move to the tympanic membrane (eardrum) that sets out a sequence of events moving from the bones of the middle ear.
How does this occur?
The tympanic membrane stretches across the end of the external auditory canal. The air molecules push against the membrane causing it to vibrate at the same frequency as the sound wave. The tympanic membrane separates the external auditory canal from the middle ear.
The middle ear is the air-filled cavity in the temporal bone. The pressure of the atmosphere is calculated based on the pressure of the external auditory canal and the middle ear cavity.
The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the pharynx – the pharynx is normally slightly closed but it opens slightly in response to yawning, stretching, and sneezing. This is because there is a difference in the pressure outside and inside the canal. This causes changes to the pressure in the middle ear leading to the eustachian tube closing and affecting the tympanic membrane. Upon yawning, the eustachian tube opens to allow the pressure in the middle ear to be equal to other areas.
After the middle ear, the sound wave goes into the inner ear called the cochlea. It is a spiral-shaped structure and is present in the temporal bone and contains a fluid called endolymph and canals (e.g., semi-lunar canals) and is involved in balance and movement.
In society, there is a tendency to hear and pass on information without clarity. This causes matters to get coiled up just like a cochlea under high pressure. The liquid is difficult to move than air and; therefore, the sound pressure requires small bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes to allow amplification in the inner ear.
The oval window separates the middle and inner ear. The sound wave is applied to the tympanic membrane and transferred to the oval window because it is smaller than the tympanic membrane.
The movement of the stapes sets pressure waves in the fluid-filled scala vestibuli. Scala vestibuli are areas filled with endolymph and found on both sides of the cochlea. This causes some of the vibrations of the cochlear duct and basilar membrane. The duct is fluid-filled that follows the cochlea and contains sensory receptors.
Stapes is supported by two muscles in the ear: tensor tympani (malleus, tympanic membrane) and stapedes that control mobility and lower the energy of the pressure. Some of the pressure transmitted across the helicotrema directly enters into the scala tympani. Scala tympani is between the cochlear duct and leads to the round window. The scala vestibuli and scala tympani meet at helicotrema.
The side of the cochlear duct to the scala tympani is formed by a basilar membrane that sits at the organ of Corti that contains the sensitive receptor cells. Pressure differences across the cochlear duct cause the basilar membrane to vibrate. As the basilar membrane vibrate, the organ of Corti move to tectorial membrane. The movement of hair cells (stereocilia) release glutamate that activates the receptors in the peripheral ends of the afferent pathway.
The aim is to actively listen and allow beneficial substances or constructive feedback to enter and process; any form of negativity can stay in the outer ear.
[Note: Information have been humbly read from anatomy and physiology books]
However, we should all reflect and ask ourselves, how often do we tend to hear but not listen to one another?
Many of us hear the words but do not actively listen and respond based upon our interpretations. The difference between hearing and listening is understanding and respect. The anatomy of the ear is fascinating and, the process in how sound can be transmitted is reflective in a loop manner.
Sound can be transmitted through different materials: solid, liquid or gas. There are no molecules present in a vacuum which allows no production of sound. However, a material such as a spoon can create vibrations from the air molecules to produce the sound wave.
Some areas of the sound can be compressed or squashed together, whereas other areas of sound are more separated (rarefaction) caused by low pressure. The pressure difference can be determined by how loud the sound would be; the greater the amplitude, the faster the vibration and the higher the pitch. Sound waves are measured as Hertz (cycles per second) – we can hear between 20 – 20,000 Hz.
Higher pressure in the transmission of sound can cause interpretations without clarification and a buildup of misunderstanding unnecessarily?
In society today, we fail to listen TO each other instead they listen AT each other? This can occur in any culture, age, gender, status, and experience. Hearing does not improve well-being but listening does. It involves receiving the information, understanding, remembering, evaluating, and responding effectively.
“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self. ” Dean Jackson
Active listening to one another is a form of empathy on both sides than one side rather than hearing without affection. This can strengthen any relationship whether a patient, student, relative, friend, colleague or any form of relation allowing the transmission of the sound to be effective.
Even during the moments of anger or upset, the pitches (frequency) and the amplitude causes the recipient to misunderstand and tend to look and interpret the body language, facial expression and tone.
We tend to fail in society because we do not know the impact of our words and actions. We just need to try and remove the wax (negativity) and not allow the information to be processed to prevent cause and effect. Listening is the attitude of the heart.
So how can we hear?
The sound waves enter the external auditory canal - the outer ear (pinna, auricle) and the external auditory canal help amplify and direct the sound. The sound waves from the side and end of the external auditory canal are filled with vibrations from the pressure. This causes the sound vibrations to move to the tympanic membrane (eardrum) that sets out a sequence of events moving from the bones of the middle ear.
- The membrane in the oval window
- Basilar membrane
- Round window membrane
- Sensitive receptor cells (hair cells near the middle ear, that can vibrate easily more and move due to higher frequency and pitch sound)
How does this occur?
The tympanic membrane stretches across the end of the external auditory canal. The air molecules push against the membrane causing it to vibrate at the same frequency as the sound wave. The tympanic membrane separates the external auditory canal from the middle ear.
The middle ear is the air-filled cavity in the temporal bone. The pressure of the atmosphere is calculated based on the pressure of the external auditory canal and the middle ear cavity.
The eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the pharynx – the pharynx is normally slightly closed but it opens slightly in response to yawning, stretching, and sneezing. This is because there is a difference in the pressure outside and inside the canal. This causes changes to the pressure in the middle ear leading to the eustachian tube closing and affecting the tympanic membrane. Upon yawning, the eustachian tube opens to allow the pressure in the middle ear to be equal to other areas.
After the middle ear, the sound wave goes into the inner ear called the cochlea. It is a spiral-shaped structure and is present in the temporal bone and contains a fluid called endolymph and canals (e.g., semi-lunar canals) and is involved in balance and movement.
In society, there is a tendency to hear and pass on information without clarity. This causes matters to get coiled up just like a cochlea under high pressure. The liquid is difficult to move than air and; therefore, the sound pressure requires small bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes to allow amplification in the inner ear.
The oval window separates the middle and inner ear. The sound wave is applied to the tympanic membrane and transferred to the oval window because it is smaller than the tympanic membrane.
The movement of the stapes sets pressure waves in the fluid-filled scala vestibuli. Scala vestibuli are areas filled with endolymph and found on both sides of the cochlea. This causes some of the vibrations of the cochlear duct and basilar membrane. The duct is fluid-filled that follows the cochlea and contains sensory receptors.
Stapes is supported by two muscles in the ear: tensor tympani (malleus, tympanic membrane) and stapedes that control mobility and lower the energy of the pressure. Some of the pressure transmitted across the helicotrema directly enters into the scala tympani. Scala tympani is between the cochlear duct and leads to the round window. The scala vestibuli and scala tympani meet at helicotrema.
The side of the cochlear duct to the scala tympani is formed by a basilar membrane that sits at the organ of Corti that contains the sensitive receptor cells. Pressure differences across the cochlear duct cause the basilar membrane to vibrate. As the basilar membrane vibrate, the organ of Corti move to tectorial membrane. The movement of hair cells (stereocilia) release glutamate that activates the receptors in the peripheral ends of the afferent pathway.
The aim is to actively listen and allow beneficial substances or constructive feedback to enter and process; any form of negativity can stay in the outer ear.
[Note: Information have been humbly read from anatomy and physiology books]