How We Hear

Hearing is one of the five senses. It is a complex series of events that starts with the outer ear picking up sound and ends with the brain attaching meaning to it. Because of the complexity of the hearing system, numerous opportunities for interruptions in the pathways can create hearing loss.

The Outer Ear: The external ear collects sound waves and sends it to the eardrum.

The Middle Ear: The internal chain of tiny bones that amplifies and transmits sound waves.

The Inner Ear: The complex nerve reception center where sound waves are changed into electric impulses.

The Auditory Pathways: The bundle of nerve fibers that carry the electric signals to the specific areas of the brain where the final interpretation of sound occurs.