Hearing and Hearing Loss
Hearing and Hearing Loss
Of our 5 senses, hearing is probably the most important for our feeling of connection to the world around us. It allows us to communicate with friends and family, enjoy the sounds around us like music or nature and helps keep us safe by alerting us to warning signals, the various sounds in traffic and other forms of danger. To properly understand how we conduct a hearing test, it is helpful to understand how the ear works.
How do we hear?
The human ear can be divided into three separate functioning groups, the outer ear, the middle ear and inner ear. The outer ear or the ‘Pinna’ collects sound wave vibrations and funnels them into the ear canal. The sound waves cause movement of the eardrum, which is connected to three small bones in the middle ear, the Malleus, Incus and Stapes. These three bones form the ossicular chain.
When the eardrum vibrates, these bones start a ‘piston’ like motion that ‘presses’ or ‘pushes’ onto the oval window – the doorway to the cochlea (inner ear). The cochlea is a snail shaped organ that is fluid filled. The pushing from the ossicles creates a wave like phenomena inside the cochlear, which triggers movement of the basiliar membrane, activating tiny hair cells that are attached to the hearing nerve. Hair cells are sensitive to and are triggered off by different frequencies (pitches) of sound. The hair cells generate electrochemical signals that travel along the hearing nerve to the brain where it is then furthered processed and recognized as sound.
Frequently asked questions
How does the ear work?
The ear has three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear. The outer ear collects sound and funnels it down the ear canal to the eardrum. The eardrum's movement passes through three small bones in the middle ear to the cochlea, where tiny hair cells turn it into signals that travel along the hearing nerve to the brain.
What is the outer ear, and what does it do?
The outer ear includes the pinna, the part you can see on the side of your head. It collects sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal. The sound then reaches the eardrum, which starts to vibrate.
What are the small bones in the middle ear?
They are the malleus, incus and stapes, which together form the ossicular chain. When the eardrum vibrates, these bones move in a piston-like way and push on the oval window, the doorway to the inner ear.
What is the cochlea?
The cochlea is the snail-shaped, fluid-filled organ in the inner ear. Movement from the middle ear creates a wave inside it, which moves a membrane and activates tiny hair cells attached to the hearing nerve. Different hair cells respond to different pitches.
How do hair cells send sound to the brain?
The hair cells generate electrochemical signals when they are triggered by sound. These signals travel along the hearing nerve to the brain, where they are processed and recognised as sound.
Why does it help to understand how the ear works before a hearing test?
Knowing which part does what makes it easier to follow the explanation of your results and the reasons behind each test step. Our team can walk you through it at your appointment. Hearing also keeps us connected to people, music and nature, and alerts us to warning sounds like traffic.
Where can I book a hearing test in Brisbane?
You can book at either of our clinics, Rochedale South or Shailer Park, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call our team on 07 3841 3764 (Rochedale South) or 0478 282 561 (Shailer Park).