How We Hear

Hearing Loss Explained

Hearing is the process of sound travelling through the outer, middle and inner ear. Although sound enters through the ear, it is interpreted by the brain.

Parts of the ear:

• Outer ear – consists of the outer part that you can see (the pinna) and the ear canal
• Middle ear – consists of the eardrum and three tiny, connected bones (ossicles), which are often referred to as the hammer, anvil and stirrup
• Inner ear – contains the snail-shaped cochlea and the hearing nerve, as well as semicircular canals that help with balance

Each of these parts of the ear play a critical role in transmitting sound. Your natural hearing depends on them working together and if you have a problem anywhere in the process, you may experience hearing loss.

What are Cochlear Implants and How Do They Work?

Normal hearing works when the ear’s structures turn sound waves into signals the brain can understand. With a cochlear implant, sound is picked up by a microphone and converted into tiny electrical signals. The implant uses electrodes to bypass the damaged part of the ear and send those signals straight to the auditory nerve, which then carries them to the brain. In fact, hearing actually happens in the brain, the ears are just the mechanism that collects and delivers sound.

Cochlear implants are usually for children who do not benefit from hearing aids. Because this “electrical hearing” is different from natural hearing, the brain needs help learning how to make sense of these signals. That’s why listening and spoken language therapy is so important. It gives children’s brains the focused practice they need to understand what they hear, organize sounds, and develop strong speech and language skills.