Question

There are many reasons why all humans do not perceive sounds similarly in our environment, including adaptation, hearing loss and/or deafness.

For 2A-2D, first determine whether the scenario is an example of sensory adaptation, conduction deafness, sensorineural deafness, and/or central deafness.
Second, for the scenarios that are examples of deafness, explain briefly how the scenario leads to deafness (i.e., how does the scenario alter normal auditory processing). If you have selected sensory adaptation as an answer, explain briefly why the scenario does not fall under the categorization of deafness. Use your own words to briefly explain - simply listing definitions is not sufficient. (2.5 points each for matching, 5 points each for correct justification)
2A. Listening to excessive loud noises everyday over years that causes loss of stereocilia
2B. Hearing construction outside when it first begins, but no longer noticing the sound minutes later
2C. Difficulty understanding speech, but no damage to ears or ability to understand nonverbal sounds
2D. A hole in the tympanic membrane caused by an ear infection

Answer 1

2A. central deafness

2B. sensory adaptation

2C. sensorineural deafness

2D. conduction deafness

Step-by-step explanation:

2A. Listening to excessively loud noises every day over the years that causes loss of stereocilia is an example of central deafness.

Central deafness could lead to deafness either partially or completely of one or both ears due to persistent exposure of the eardrum to loud noise every day for years. when it happens in years that is gradual damage which is usually common compared to sudden deafness. Stereocilia can be damaged with a persistent loud noise.

2B. Hearing construction outside when it first begins but no longer noticing the sound minutes later is an example of sensory adaptation.

In sensory adaptation, the sensory system tends to get adapted to a change in the sound that comes from the environment usually with that sound remaining constant over time. The sensory system get used to the constant stimuli, in this case, the construction outside and with time the system tends to make the stimuli less sensitive.

Sensory adaptation does not fall under the categorization of deafness because, though prolonged exposure of the hears to loud noise could lead to deafness, Sensory adaptation is just an adaptive feature of the hearing system and it could be a loud or low sound or noises.

2C. Difficulty understanding speech, but no damage to ears or ability to understand nonverbal sounds are an example of sensorineural deafness.

Sensorineural deafness involves the ability to hear sound but not to understand speech. Sounds may not be clear but the sufferer could hear a loud noise and it is usually caused if the part of the hearing that collects impulses and sends them to the brain become damaged.

2D. A hole in the tympanic membrane caused by an ear infection is an example of conduction deafness.

The tympanic membrane is also known as the Eardrum, the vibration of this membrane after being hit by stimuli from sounds is part of the fore process to allow the interpretation of sound by the brain. So when there is a hole in the eardrum conduction deafness would occur as the sound wave from the environment is blocked failing to be conducted through the eardrum.