How We Hear.
 The ear is a complex and delicate organ that allows you to detect passing waves of sound energy and thus hear the sounds of the world around you. The ear also contains an organ that helps you to keep your balance. Most of the ear is hidden inside the head so you are seldom aware of the job your ears are doing until they begin to fail. Fortunately,
most hearing loss can be helped through medical care, surgery, or most often the wearing of hearing aids. Normal Hearing
Our ears are divided into three basic sections. The Outer or External Ear, the Middle Ear, and the Inner Ear. Each section has a unique and important purpose.
 The external ear collects sound and is amplified (made stronger) and funnels it to the tympanic membrane or eardrum. At the eardrum the middle ear begins. In the middle ear sound waves are converted into vibrations and transmitted into the very sensitive inner ear. In the inner ear the vibrations are converted into nerve impulses (signals) that are then transmitted to the brain. The brain compares the intensity and frequency of the incoming signals and our brain interpets these signals into thought or hearing. Sounds simple doesn't it! If any part or section or our ears don't function properly we suffer a hearing loss.
How do we hear?
When something makes a noise, it sends vibrations, or sound waves, through the air.
The human eardrum is
a stretched membrane, like the skin of a drum. When the sound waves hit
your eardrum, it vibrates and the brain interprets these vibrations as
sound.
Actually, as most things having to do with the human body, it is a little more complicated than that.
After the vibrations
hit your eardrum, a chain reaction is set off. Your eardrum, which is
smaller and thinner than the nail on your pinky finger, sends the
vibrations to the three smallest bones in your body. First the hammer,
then the anvil, and finally, the stirrup. The stirrup passes those
vibrations along a coiled tub in the inner ear called the cochlea.
Inside the cochlea
there are thousands of hair-like nerve endings, cilia. When the Cochlea
vibrates, the cilia move. Your brain is sent these messages (translated
from vibrations by the cilia) through the auditory nerve.
Your brain
then translates all that and tells you what you are hearing.
Neurologists don't yet fully understand how we process raw sound data
once it enters the cerebral cortex in the brain.
Did you know?
- Your ears
aren't just good for helping you hear. They help you keep your balance
as well. Near the top of the cochlea are three loops called the
semi-circular canals. These canals are full of fluid that moves when
you move your head. It pushes up against the cilia and sends messages
to your brain that tells it how your body is moving.
You know that feeling of dizziness after you have been spinning
around? Well, the fluid in you ears spun as well. That makes the cilia
move in all different directions and confused your brain.
- Children have more sensitive ears than adults. They can hear a larger variety of sounds.
- Dolphins have the best sense of hearing amongst all the animals. They are able to hear 14 times better than humans.
- Too much fluid putting pressure on your eardrums causes earaches. They are often a result of infection, allergies, or a virus.
For more information contact us at info@mananhearing.com
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