Gift of Hearing

There are many aspects to the process of hearing sound. First, it must be sensed. This involves a structure within the inner ear and sensory neurons that map to it. Next, it must be interpreted at a basic level, which is essentially involves both a filtering process of the incoming sensory information stream and an active recognition process that includes integration with memory. There are then advanced processes such as augmenting sounds of interest ("signal") and minimizing analysis of other sounds considered by the human to be "noise." There are also active compensation processes, such as how to deal with self-produced sounds. The ability to interpret sounds is a function of their quality, and we will also consider strategies for audio compression-decompression algorithms (codecs). This section briefly examines some of these aspects of process of hearing, and how hearing impairments can influence the interpretation of sound.

From Sound Waves to the Inner Ear

• Anatomy of Signal Transduction from the Ear to the Cochlear Nuclei
• Ranges of Sensation - Frequencies and Magnitudes
• Audiogram - Basic Testing of Sensing Sound

Sensing to Hearing Within the Brain

• Sound Recognition
• Sound Localization

Audio Codecs

• Basic Principles and Objectives
• Approaches for Conversation (Vocoders, Lower-Bandwidth, VoIP, etc.)
• Approaches including Music (Waveform Codes, MP3/WMA, etc.)

Speaking

Access/Accommodation for Hearing Disability

• Reasons for Hearing Disability
• Possible Meical Solutions for Hearing Disability
• Accessibility Strategies