Final answer:
The ear is the specific sense organ responsible for hearing. It senses sound waves, which are then processed into nerve impulses that the brain interprets as sound.
Step-by-step explanation:
The specific sense organ responsible for hearing is the ear. The process of hearing begins when sound waves enter the ear through the auditory canal, causing the eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted through the tiny bones in the middle ear, known as the hammer, anvil, and stirrup, which amplify the sound. The amplified vibrations reach the cochlea in the inner ear, where they cause the liquid inside to move, bending tiny hair cells known as stereocilia.
The movement of these hair cells creates nerve impulses that are sent to the auditory nerve and then on to the brain, which interprets these signals as sound. Besides hearing, the ear is also essential for maintaining balance. Within the ear, the semicircular canals contain fluid and tiny hairs that sense changes in head position, sending nerve impulses through the vestibular nerve to the brain to help control skeletal muscle contractions and keep us balanced.