Download A.1.3.1GoodVibrations - Life Science Academy

Activity 1.3.1 Good Vibrations
Introduction
Sue Smith was lucky because her bacterial meningitis infection was quickly diagnosed and
treated. The antibiotics eliminated the infection and Sue was able to make a full recovery.
Sue has returned to school and has even begun practicing with the soccer team again. It has
been two months since her initial diagnosis and Sue’s primary care physician has given her
a clean bill of health. To Sue’s surprise, the physician has recommended that Sue have her
hearing checked. Sue’s physician explains that although Sue has not noticed any symptoms
of hearing loss, the incidence of hearing loss in patients who have recovered from meningitis
is very high. Sue has scheduled an appointment with an audiologist, a healthcare
professional specializing in treatment of patients with hearing loss and related disorders.
In this activity, you will investigate the physics of sound as well as learn how hearing works
and what can go wrong in the ear that causes different types of hearing loss. You will be
assigned a patient with a specific type of hearing loss and will show the cause of the hearing
loss on a model of the ear.
Equipment
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Computer with Internet access
Activity 1.3.1: Student Resource Sheet
Laboratory journal
Highlighters
Colored pencils
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Markers
Poster board
Assorted colors of clay
Toothpicks and sticky labels for flags
Reference textbook (optional)
Procedure
Part I: The Physics of Sound
1. Obtain a Student Resource Sheet from your teacher.
2. Read through Part I: The Physics of Sound on the Student Resource Sheet and highlight
important information. Take notes in your laboratory journal.
3. Go to the following website to access an interactive sound wave tutorial.
o iKnowthat.com – Science Lab Sound Waves
http://www.iknowthat.com/ScienceIllustrations/sound/science_desk.swf.
4. Note how the sound created by the clap moves outward as a wave.
5. Click on Exploring Pitch and Volume.
6. Click on each glass and note the frequency of each sound wave on the graph. Change
the amplitude of each sound wave by changing how strongly you strike the glass.
7. Answer Conclusion questions 1 and 2.
© 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Medical Interventions Activity 1.3.1 Good Vibrations – Page 1
Part II: Sense of Hearing
8. Use reference textbooks or the websites listed below to investigate the structures of the
ear. Find detailed images of the outer, middle, and inner ear. Print out or sketch the
structures of the ear in your laboratory journal.
o Partners in Assistive Technology Training and Services - The Ear: Auditory and
Vestibular Systems http://webschoolsolutions.com/patts/systems/ear.htm
o Wisconsin Online Learning Center – Anatomy of the Ear http://www.wisconline.com/objects/index_tj.asp?objID=AP1502
o Augustana College – Virtual Tour of the Ear
http://ctl.augie.edu/perry/ear/hearmech.htm
9. Create a model of the structures of the ear. You may can do a detailed drawing in your
lab notebook. Use different colors for the different structures.
10. Label each of the following structures. If you have chosen to create a clay model, build
toothpick flags to label the structures.
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Pinna
Auditory canal
Eustachian tube
Ossicles (malleus, incus, and
stapes)
o Tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Cochlea
Sensory hair cells
Cochlear nerve
Oval Window
Vestibule
Vestibular nerve
11. In your laboratory journal, list the parts of the ear and write one sentence next to each
which describes the function of that part.
Part III: Hearing Loss Case Studies
12. With a partner, read your assigned patient case study, found on Part II of your Student
Resource Sheet.
13. Use reliable Internet sources to research the cause, the ear structures affected, as well
as the prognosis for your assigned patient’s hearing loss. Take notes in your laboratory
journal.
14. With your partner, give a two minute presentation to the rest of the class demonstrating
the cause of the hearing loss on your model of the ear.
15. Take notes in your laboratory journal as every group presents.
16. Go to the following website to access various sound files demonstrating different types of
hearing loss. Listen to all of the audio files from the Normal Hearing file down through
Tinnitus (example 2).
o Hear-it.org – Impression of Hearing Impairment http://www.press.hearit.org/Impression-of-hearing-impairment-1
17. Answer the remaining Conclusion questions.
© 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Medical Interventions Activity 1.3.1 Good Vibrations – Page 2
Conclusion Questions
1. Explain how sound travels through the air.
2. Draw a picture of a sound wave. Label both the amplitude and frequency on the picture
and describe how these terms relate to how a person would hear this sound wave.
3. Describe the pathway of sound from the time a sound is generated to the time our brain
registers the sound. Make sure to include all key structures of the ear in your description.
4. What is the difference between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss?
5. Why is it dangerous to listen to an MP3 player at excessively loud volumes for extensive
periods of time?
6. Explain how you would create a medical intervention to help a person dealing with severe
sensorineural or conductive hearing loss.
Web Porfolio
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Photo of your ear diagram from your notebook
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Place answer from #11 in your notebook and also in your portfolio
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Anything else creative you can use related to this activity
© 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Medical Interventions Activity 1.3.1 Good Vibrations – Page 3