About Hearing Loss

The Human Ear

Sound travels through the air in waves, which are first collected by the outer ear. The outer ear consists of two parts known as the pinna and the ear canal. The pinna collects sound and plays a role in determining which direction sounds come from. Sound travels via the pinna down the ear canal until it hits the ear drum – the first part of the middle ear. Inside the middle ear there are three tiny bones, called ossicles. These three bones form a chain essentially connecting the eardrum to a window on the inner ear or cochlea. As sound waves reach the ear drum, they cause it to vibrate back and forth which in turn makes the ossicles move.

The cochlea is a fluid filled organ lined with tiny hair cells. When the ossicles move and push against the window of the cochlea, waves are created in the fluid which cause the hair cells to move. The hair cells inside the inner ear convert this movement into electrical signals which can travel up the auditory nerve to the brain. It is up to the brain to then interpret the signals being presented.

Your inner ear also helps control your balance. The parts of your inner ear that help with balance share the same space and fluid as the cochlea. These parts are the semicircular canals, utricle, and saccule.

Causes of hearing loss

Hearing loss can occur for many reasons during our lifetime and at any age. Generally speaking, the presence of hearing loss indicates that there has been some damage to the outer, middle, or inner ear or sometimes in the auditory nerve pathway to the brain.

Sometimes hearing loss is present from birth. In other circumstances, and for most people, hearing loss develops over time as a result of the ageing process. However, exposure to loud noise, the result of an illness, an accident, or even exposure to toxic drugs or chemicals can also cause hearing loss.

Hearing health

Studies have shown that the effects of hearing loss are cumulative. Just as muscles grow weak from lack of use, the brain loses its ability to process sounds and recognise speech without regular auditory stimulation. By the time someone finally acknowledges their hearing loss is real, they may have already lost the full appreciation of the sounds and music they once enjoyed.

To prevent the debilitating impacts of hearing loss, as soon as you suspect your hearing may be declining, or are noticing signs that your spouse, partner or friend is simply not hearing as well as they once were, we encourage you and invite you to make a hearing health appointment.

Audiologists at Hear Check are University trained and provide a thorough hearing evaluation and objective, independent advice. Hear Check Audiologists will guide you and will be with you every step of your hearing health journey.