luunjohtokuulo

Luunjohtokuulo, also known as bone conduction hearing, is a method of hearing where sound vibrations are transmitted directly to the inner ear through the bones of the skull. This bypasses the outer and middle ear structures, which are responsible for conducting sound through air.

In normal hearing, sound waves enter the ear canal, vibrate the eardrum, and then pass through the ossicles in the middle ear to reach the cochlea in the inner ear. With luunjohtokuulo, these external pathways are bypassed. Instead, a device, often placed on the mastoid bone behind the ear or on the forehead, generates vibrations. These vibrations travel through the skull's bones and directly stimulate the cochlea, where they are converted into nerve impulses that the brain interprets as sound.

Luunjohtokuulo is a principle utilized in various hearing solutions. Bone conduction hearing aids are designed for individuals with certain types of hearing loss, particularly conductive hearing loss or mixed hearing loss, where the outer or middle ear is impaired, but the inner ear is functional. These devices can help individuals who do not benefit from conventional air conduction hearing aids. Furthermore, bone conduction technology is employed in specialized headphones and headsets that allow users to hear audio while keeping their ear canals open, which can be beneficial for situational awareness or for individuals with ear canal issues. The effectiveness of luunjohtokuulo depends on the integrity and function of the inner ear.