Question

If sound waves don't become vibrations in your ear, which structure has a problem?

Answer 1

It is the ossicles that have a problem.

Explanation:

The structure of the ear is

(From www.wisegeek.com)

Sound waves pass through the auditory canal and beat against the eardrum, causing vibrations in the ossicles in the middle ear.

There are three ossicles:

• The malleus — a hammer-shaped bone that transmits sound vibrations from the eardrum to the incus.
• The incus — an anvil-shaped bone that transmits sound vibrations from the malleus to the stapes.
• The stapes — a stirrup-shaped bone that transmits sound vibrations from the incus to the inner ear.

If the joints between the ossicles are unable to move, the sound cannot be transmitted effectively to the inner ear and hearing will be severely impaired.