How we hear

Hearing is a fascinating process that allows us to connect with the world, understand speech, and enjoy the sounds around us. It all begins with sound waves—vibrations in the air that travel to our ears.

When sound waves reach the outer ear, they are funneled through the ear canal to the eardrum, a thin membrane that vibrates in response. These vibrations are then passed to the middle ear, where three tiny bones—the malleus, incus, and stapes—amplify the sound. The stapes sends the vibrations into the inner ear, specifically to the cochlea, a spiral-shaped organ filled with fluid and thousands of microscopic hair cells.

Inside the cochlea, these hair cells play a crucial role. As sound waves move through the fluid, the hair cells bend and trigger electrical signals. These signals are sent through the auditory nerve to the brain, which interprets them as recognisable sounds—voices, music, alarms, or laughter.

Hearing loss occurs when any part of this system doesn’t function properly. If hair cells in the cochlea are damaged or lost, they can’t send signals effectively, making sounds unclear or difficult to hear. If the tiny bones in the middle ear don’t move well, sound may not reach the cochlea properly. Some types of hearing loss can be helped with hearing aids or medical treatment, while others require specialized hearing rehabilitation.

Even if you experience hearing loss, advancements in hearing aid technology and therapies can help you regain clarity in communication and reconnect with the sounds you love. Understanding how hearing works is the first step to finding the best solutions for your needs!