How does Hearing Work?

Sounds are heard through vibrations, A.K.A. sound waves that come in contact with our ears. The brain then interprets those vibrations as either speech, music, or other sounds.

The Outer Ear

The outer ear - the anatomy of the ear that you and others see externally - harnesses sound waves into the ear canal. Sound waves move through the ear canal until it reaches the eardrum.

The Middle Ear

Harnessed sound waves cause the eardrums to vibrate. These vibrations are transferred to three tiny bones in the middle ear. These bones make the sound vibrations louder and transmit them to the inner ear. 

The Inner Ear

A small snail-shaped structure that is full of fluid and located in the inner ear is known as the cochlea. Vibrations of sound create waves in the cochlear fluids. When the waves reach their highest, the tiny hair cells bend, and the vibrations are turned into electrical signals. The tiny hair cells are called stereocilia, which are receptors that can recognize the sound.  

The Auditory Nerve

Electrical signals from the inner ear are transferred to the brain through the auditory nerve. The brain interprets the signals as sounds that you identify and comprehend.  

If you are having trouble with hearing, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation. 

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