How Does Hearing Work?
Our hearing is undoubtedly one of our most important senses. It allows us to understand people, hear oncoming traffic, listen for sirens or warning signs, socialise and work. The human body is capable of incredible things, but just how does our hearing work? Let’s find out.
Our ability to hear relies on five main steps:
1.Sound waves from our surrounding environment enter the outer ear and travel down the ear canal where it encounters the eardrum.
2.The eardrum starts to vibrate from the soundwaves and this causes the ossicles to vibrate as well in what’s called the middle ear. The ossicles are made up of three small bones, called the malleus, incus and stapes (commonly known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup respectively).
3.The bones then also vibrate causing fluid in the inner ear to move as well. The inner ear is also called the cochlea and it is shaped like a snail, as it has a coil-like appearance. Getting cochlea implants are a common procedure that people get to enhance their hearing by producing clearer sounds. It works by having the digital code of sound waves sent to the cochlear implant which helps your brain interpret sound.
4.As the fluid moves, this makes the hair cells in the cochlea to vibrate. The hairs on the wider ends of the cochlea are able to detect sounds with higher pitches such as the cry of a baby or the screeching sound of a siren. Towards the centre of the cochlea is where the hair cells can separate lower-pitched sounds like thunder or the bass in a song. Hair cells are meant to stand straight in rows but when they are compromised, they become permanently bent over and out of order. When the hairs move, the tops of the cells bump the top section of the cochlear where they are located and slightly bend, causing the tips of the stereocilia to open. This creates an electrical signal or pulse.
5.These electrical pulses are transmitted to the auditory nerve and make its way to the brain where it becomes interpreted as sound.
While hearing loss is something that is common amongst a lot of elderly people, younger people also experience the effect of losing their ability to hear. This can become troublesome and can hinder your lifestyle. If you find yourself noticing a decrease in your ability to hear, get in touch with a professional today. Attune Hearing is Australia’s largest independent and only accredited hearing healthcare provider committed to caring for and helping Australians nationwide. Book in for an appointment today!
