Apparatus for transmitting acoustic signals in a primary direction and/or receiving acoustic signals from the primary direction, in particular for detecting vehicle surroundings, comprising an electroacoustic transducer and a deflection element, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is configured so as • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to transmit the acoustic signal in the primary direction and a backward direction, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to be stimulated by the acoustic signal from the primary direction and from the backward direction; wherein the deflection element is configured so as • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a first acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction, which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the first acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction, wherein the deflection element is further configured so as: • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to further deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a second acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction, which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the second acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction, wherein the first acoustic path and the second acoustic path have a different delay for the acoustic signal in order to influence a directional characteristic of the apparatus, characterized in that the apparatus has a diaphragm, wherein the electroacoustic transducer is connected to a first subregion of the diaphragm, and the first acoustic path is routed via a second subregion of the diaphragm. • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to transmit the acoustic signal in the primary direction and a backward direction, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to be stimulated by the acoustic signal from the primary direction and from the backward direction; • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a first acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction, which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the first acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction, • when acoustic signals are transmitted, to further deflect the acoustic signal transmitted in the backward direction into the primary direction via a second acoustic path such that said signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, and/or • when acoustic signals are received, to deflect the acoustic signal arriving from the primary direction, which signal passes the electroacoustic transducer at the side, via the second acoustic path such that said signal strikes the electroacoustic transducer from the backward direction,