THE CONTRIBUTION OF MIDDLE-EAR SOUND CONDUCTION TO AUDITORY DEVELOPMENT

1. This presentation summarizes recent research concerning the maturat ion of sound transmission through the middle-ear conducting system of various vertebrate species. 2. In this review the structural and funct ional aspects of middle-ear development am presented, as well as the r elationships between these events. 3. Functional changes in middle-ear transmission demonstrated that the efficiency of sound conduction imp roved dramatically during the period of development. 4. The functional development of the middle ear was then compared with the maturation o f auditory sensitivity measured from more central locations in the aud itory system. 5. The results indicated that conductive development in some species determined the rate of sensitivity development. 6. These findings add an important dimension to our understanding of the underl ying processes of hearing maturation.