Why do we hear whispers?

Researchers have discovered a mechanism deep inside the ear that helps people hear small-scale speech. This finding ultimately helps companies that produce hearing aids and hearing rehabilitation devices more in design.

Scientists have learned about cochlea - part of the inner ear, where the sounds after reception are translated into electrical signals and into the brain for processing.

The results show that in the coil, sound waves slide along a thin film, also known as the basilar membrane, making the fibers shaped like hairs vibrate at different frequencies. . When stimulated, these fibers emit electrical impulses that the brain uses to calculate the low pitch of sound.

Hanging just above the tube is a diaphragm. And scientists have found that there is another kind of sound wave going along that membrane. It is these waves that stimulate hair cells and enhance their sensitivity. According to researcher Roozbeh Ghaffari, the phenomenon could explain how we hear soft sounds like a whisper.

Researchers have discovered a mechanism deep inside the ear that helps people hear small-scale speech.(Photo: National Institute of Health)

The finding, according to Ghaffari, has hinted at how the ear and hearing aids are available in the market. Help explain how we hear whispers.

Researchers have discovered a mechanism deep inside the ear that helps people hear small-scale speech. This finding ultimately helps companies that produce hearing aids and hearing rehabilitation devices more in design.

Scientists have learned about cochlea - part of the inner ear, where the sounds after reception are translated into electrical signals and into the brain for processing.

The results show that in the coil, sound waves slide along a thin film, also known as the basilar membrane, making the fibers shaped like hairs vibrate at different frequencies. . When stimulated, these fibers emit electrical impulses that the brain uses to calculate the low pitch of sound.

Hanging just above the tube is a diaphragm. And scientists have found that there is another kind of sound wave going along that membrane. It is these waves that stimulate hair cells and enhance their sensitivity. According to researcher Roozbeh Ghaffari, the phenomenon could explain how we hear soft sounds like a whisper.

The finding, according to Ghaffari, has hinted at how the ear and hearing aids are available in the market.

Ghaffari said: 'Most hearing aids that we have are inadequate, that is, they amplify only the sound and destroy everything. Our ears are faster than these devices because the ears have tricks to distinguish different sounds. Therefore, there is a more detailed model of the mechanical apparatus of the cochlea that can help us improve hearing aids and cochlear implants. '

Bui Thanh