The hair cells then convert the vibrations into electrical impulses that travel through the auditory nerve to the brain. The vibrations, in turn, pass to the inner ear and the cochlea, a hollow, snail-shaped structure that’s filled with fluid and lined with thousands of tiny hair cells. Sound waves enter the ear canal and travel to the eardrum, causing the eardrum and the tiny bones in the middle ear – the ossicles – to vibrate. These vibrations cause the energy in the air to move in a pattern, creating a sound wave. Sound is made when something vibrates and causes the air around it to vibrate. It includes the ears, the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain, and parts of the brain that process sound.
The auditory system is responsible for our sense of hearing and how we understand sounds. To understand how and why, it helps to know a little bit about the auditory system and how hearing works. Hearing loss happens when sound signals don’t reach the brain. Hearing loss can be caused by advancing age, exposure to loud noise, genetics, a blockage in the ear, and infections, among other things.ĭepending on the type and cause of hearing loss, treatments may be available, the most common being hearing aids. There are three main types of hearing loss:Įach type affects a different part of the auditory system – the body’s system that’s responsible for our sense of hearing and how we understand sounds. Half of people aged 75 and older have disabling or severe hearing loss.
Sudden hearing loss in one ear or both ears is a medical emergency, and if you experience it you should seek medical advice straight away.Īround 37.5 million adults in the US report they have hearing problems – that’s around 15% of the population. Some types of hearing loss can be temporary and treatable, while others are permanent and may gradually worsen over time. Hearing loss can happen for a variety of reasons. If you’re experiencing difficulty hearing, or you’re concerned about a loved one who’s struggling to keep up with conversations, you might have lots of questions.
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