Download A.1.3.1GoodVibrations

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. However, 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
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 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 create either a model using
clay or a detailed drawing on a poster board. 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)
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.hear-it.org/Impression-of-hearing-impairment1
17. Answer the remaining Conclusion questions.
© 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Medical Interventions Activity 1.3.1 Good Vibrations – Page 2
1.3.1 Good Vibrations Conclusion Questions
1. Explain how sound travels through the air.
2. Insert 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.
© 2010 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Medical Interventions Activity 1.3.1 Good Vibrations – Page 3