The ear can be divided into 3 sections:-
Outer Ear – comprising of the pinna and external auditory canal
Middle Ear – comprising the eardrum, middle ear ossicles and the Eustachian tube
Inner Ear – comprising of the cochlea and nerves to the ear
The pinna collects sound energy which is a vibration of air molecules. The vibration of air molecules is directed down the external auditory canal onto the eardrum. The eardrum is attached to 3 very small bones (ossicular chain) which in turn attach to a thin membrane separating the middle ear from the inner ear. This whole linked structure takes vibrations in the air and turns them into vibrations in the fluid of the inner ear. This structure amplifies sound energy by 1000 times so that the vibrations of fluid in the inner ear of large enough to stimulate the sensitive Hairs Cells of the cochlea. These hair cells are linked to the 30,000 nerves which link to the cortex of the brain, however the pathways from the ear to the cortex are complex and still being researched.
The ear does not hear! It transforms vibrations travelling through air into nerve impulses. Up to 30,000 nerves then carry information from the ear to the cortex of the brain. It is the brain that ‘hears’ by interpreting the nerve impulses. The cortex aims to match information to known patterns, such as speech and environmental sound.
You can call Dr Graham Day for a free hearing aid consultaion on 07957 191 896