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The human ear features a complex design that allows it to transform sound waves into electrical signals that you recognize. While the delicate parts of the ear provide you with sensitive hearing abilities, they can be easily damaged due to external stimuli, or they can deteriorate with aging, resulting in hearing loss. Learn more about the hearing process to understand how to protect your ears.

How Do Our Ears Process Sounds?

Outer Ear 

The outer ear is where sound waves enter and begin the first steps of translation into electrical signals. First, the sound goes through the ear canal and strikes the eardrum, causing tiny vibrations that move to the middle ear.

Middle Ear

hearing lossThree small bones called ossicles connect the eardrum to the opening of the inner ear. This chain of tiny bones, known as the malleus, incus, and stapes, transfer the vibrations from the eardrum to the fluid of the inner ear.

Inner Ear

The inner ear, also known as the cochlea, is a fluid-filled chamber resembling a snail shell that is split in half by the basilar membrane. As the inner ear fluid picks up the vibrations from the middle ear, hair cells on the basilar membrane move up and down. This causes movement in the stereocilia, which are microscopic projections on the hair cells. The stereocilia open to accept an onrush of chemicals, which creates an electrical signal that is transferred to the auditory nerve and transported on to the brain for translation.

What Happens When We Experience Hearing Loss?

Loud sounds and aging are two of the most common causes of inner ear damage and resultant hearing loss. You can suffer from a ruptured eardrum due to a sudden pressure change or an external object that physically damages the eardrum. Viruses, infections, head trauma  and tumors can also cause hearing loss. While most types of hearing loss are irreversible, a skilled audiologist can help you improve the quality of the sounds you still do hear.

 

 

If you are suffering from hearing loss,  please contact Augusta Audiology Associates, PC. in Fishersville, VA to find out what options are available to you. For the past 25 years, we have offered comprehensive audiology services from evaluations to hearing aids. We provide a gold standard of care and work tirelessly to find the right solutions for your hearing healthcare needs. Set up your first appointment today by calling (540) 332-5790 or visiting our website.

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