The process of hearing – how do we hear?

Our ears are truly a remarkable organ. The process of hearing works to alter the acoustic stimulus that enters and moves through our ear canals, which then creates some form of neural code that our brains can interpret, process and comprehend. We want to share some basic steps on how the process of hearing works.

Here are 6 basic steps on the process of hearing:

1. Sound transfers into the ear canal, which causes the eardrum to move.
2. The eardrum then vibrates with the different sounds.
3. These sound vibrations make their way through the ossicles to the cochlea.
4. Sound vibrations make the fluid in the cochlea travel like ocean waves.
5. The movement of the fluid makes the hair cells of the auditory nerve pick up any neural signals created by the hair cells. The hair cells at one end of the cochlea transfer low pitch sound information and hair cells at the opposite end with high pitch sound information.
6. The auditory nerve moves signals to the brain where they are then translated into identifiable and meaningful sounds. It is the brain that “hears”.

The process of hearing is remarkable

The hearing process connects us to the soundscape of our surroundings. Our hearing system provide us with an amazing ability to identify and comprehend the most minuscule acoustic cues. In fact, our brains can store the neural equivalents of acoustic patterns such as music, voices, danger sounds, and environmental sounds. Which in essence makes it much easier for us to recognise and process both familiar and unfamiliar sounds.

What causes loss of hearing

Hearing loss occurs when sounds that are typically loud become softer and less understandable. This is a result of our brain being misled through a loss of audibility. Some information also becomes misleading as it reaches the brain, which disrupts the quality of our hearing.

A head trauma, neurologic disease, medical disorder or the process of simply aging, can result in shifts in the ability of the brain to process hearing effectively. This can lead to symptoms that reflect hearing loss. These symptoms may include distraction, inappropriate responses, and confusion. Our brain works with our ears in an incredible way.

What to do when you start to experience hearing problems?

When your hearing is working as it should, there are many signals and information that is sent to various parts of the ear that goes to the auditory nerve of the brain. When you experience hearing problems, depending which part of the hearing system is failing to respond, the first step would be improving your health and quality of life. If you have questions or concerns regarding hearing loss, you can give us a call to schedule a hearing test for you at Strauss Audiology.

About Strauss Audiology
Strauss Audiology is a professional audiology business in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, offering expert, effective hearing advice that is tailored to clients’ unique hearing needs. We conduct hearing evaluations, hearing tests and vertigo assessments, and provide a range of solutions to improve and protect clients’ hearing. This includes providing hearing aids to Cape Town clients. With 16 years of experience, and with the qualifications and certifications to deliver leading hearing care, you can trust us to take care of your hearing needs.