Birds come in all shapes and sizes. They can be found in the air, in trees and bushes, on the ground, and even in the water. Evolutionary adaptations within the class Aves (birds) account for the diversity, including the middle- and inner-ear structures.

In a recent study, ornithologists compared 127 species of bird ears to catalog morphological traits, paying particular attention to the middle-ear structures in birds who dive and hunt for their prey underwater (Zeyl, et al., 2022). 

As audiologists, we know that the middle ear serves as an impedance matcher between the atmospheric pressure and the inner ear. However, in birds who dive to great depths, modifications of this system are necessary to hear their prey and also protect themselves from barotrauma during their aquatic missions.

For a greater understanding of underwater acoustics and how it relates to middle-ear structure diversity, check out the link in the reference below.  

Reference

Zeyl JN, Snelling EP, Connan M, Basille M, Clay TA, Joo R, et al. (2022) Aquatic birds have middle ears adapted to amphibious lifestyles. Nature News. Electronically published March 28.

Share this

Related Posts

The Utilization of Telehealth Services (Drazen Zigic/shutterstock.com)

The Utilization of Telehealth Services

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Audiology (2020) provided audiologists with guidance regarding the use of telehealth services. In October 2021, the Academy released a position statement titled The Use of Telehealth for the Delivery of Audiological Services. Members can access this statement here. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have expanded telehealth services,…

Read More
Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD

Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately five percent of the pediatric population. Up to 50 percent of children with ADHD also exhibit motor control and balance issues in addition to the more commonly seen symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Fidgeting, poor motor planning, increased postural sway, and difficulty sitting still may be related…

Read More
Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults (Cedric E/shutterstock.com)

Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults

At the end of September 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data overviewing rates of death resulting from unintentional falls between the years of 1999–2020 by adults 65 years and older (Garnett et al, 2022). The report showed that death rates have increased, with the largest increase seen by those aged…

Read More