However, sound therapy puts a larger focus on developing the muscles of the inner ear to indirectly repair damage to the inner ear. In his book, When Listening Comes Alive , Paul Madaule relates audition to vision to explain how we develop sensitivity to various frequencies. We have two mechanisms operating simultaneously when we use our vision. The first permits visual perception, allowing us to see. The second allows us to focus in on particular objects.
Audition works in a similar way.
The inner ear consists of three small bones and two muscles. The role of these muscles is primarily protection. Repeated exposure to various frequencies, such as found in the hearing curve for a particular language, causes the stirrup muscle to strengthen and, in a way, specialize. Just as an athlete trains for a particular sport by strengthening specific muscles, the stirrup muscle is exercised and trained for music or a specific language. Even if the sense of hearing can be regained, the auditory selectivity and discrimination skills will be disrupted.