Explore how our hearing works and what leads to hearing problems

The ear consists of three main parts and performs a vital function in receiving and interpreting sound.

1) Outer Ear
4) Middle Ear
5) Inner Ear

The Outer Ear collects sound vibrations in the concha 1and passes them along the ear canal 2

The sound vibrates the ear drum  which in turn moves the tiny bones 4 in the Middle Ear.

This movement transmits vibrations to the cochlea 5 in the Inner Ear where they are received by fragile microscopic hair cells that convert vibration into nerve impulses for onward transmission by the auditory nerve 6 to the brain for recognition.

It is very important as human beings to use our sense of hearing. Losing the sense of hearing can completely change a person’s way of living. We should be properly educated in how to care for our sense of hearing by knowing how it works and preventing common causes of hearing loss.

The ear consists of three main parts and each performs a vital function in receiving and interpreting sound. Permanent hearing loss can occur once any of these parts encounters a problem, as it is very important that they function together perfectly.

Hair cells are fragile and some die as a function of disease, head injuries, medications, exposure to noise and age 7

These conditions cannot be medically or surgically corrected. The best treatment for hearing loss from damage to the hair cells or auditory nerve are hearing instruments.