How do we Hear
How do we Hear
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The three main parts of the ear are the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Hearing begins when sound waves pass through the outer ear to the eardrum, which is the thin piece of skin between your outer and middle ear. When the sound waves reach the eardrum, the eardrum vibrates.
The three bones of the middle ear are called the ossicles. These include the malleus, incus, and stapes . The eardrum and the ossicles work together to increase the vibrations as the sound waves travel onward to the inner ear.
When the sound waves reach the inner ear, they travel through the fluids of the cochlea. The cochlea is a snail-shaped structure in the inner ear. In the cochlea, there are nerve cells with thousands of miniature hairs attached to them. These hairs help convert the sound wave vibrations into electrical signals that then travel to your brain. Your brain interprets these electrical signals as sound. Different sound vibrations create different reactions in these tiny hairs, signaling different sounds to your brain.
Hearing Loss
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is when you’re unable to partially or completely hear sound in one or both of your ears. Hearing loss typically occurs gradually over time.
Hearing loss is a common problem caused by noise, aging, disease, and heredity. People with hearing loss may find it hard to have conversations with friends and family. They may also have trouble understanding a doctor’s advice, responding to warnings, and hearing doorbells and alarms, etc. Mostly people having Hearing difficulty (loss) not want to admit it.
people who can’t hear well may become depressed, or they may withdraw from others because they feel frustrated or embarrassed about not understanding what is being said. Sometimes, people are mistakenly thought to be confused, unresponsive, or uncooperative because they don’t hear well.
Hearing loss that are ignored or untreated can get worse. If you have a hearing problem, see your doctor. Hearing aids, certain medicines, and surgery are some of the treatments that can help.
Some studies have shown that older adults with hearing loss have a greater risk of developing dementia than older adults with normal hearing. Cognitive abilities (including memory and concentration) decline faster in older adults with hearing loss than in older adults with normal hearing. Treating hearing problems may be important for cognitive health
Hearing Loss Can Lead to Disconnection….
Hearing Loss Can Lead to Disconnection….
People with hearing loss may find it hard to have conversations with friends and family, which can lead to less interaction with people, social isolation, and higher rates of loneliness.
Types of Hearing Loss
Types of Hearing Loss
1.Conductive Hearing Loss
1.Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds aren’t able to travel from the outer ear to the eardrum and the bones of the middle ear. When this type of hearing loss occurs, you may find it difficult to hear soft or muffled sounds. Conductive hearing loss isn’t always permanent. Medical interventions can treat it.
Conductive hearing loss can be caused by:
Ear infections
Allergies
Swimmer’s ear
A buildup of wax in the ear
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)
2. Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)
SNHL happens when there’s damage to inner ear structures or in the nerve pathways to the brain. This type of hearing loss is usually permanent. SNHL makes even distinct, normal, or loud sounds seem muffled or unclear.
SNHL can result from:
birth defects that alter the structure of the ear
aging
working around loud noises
trauma to the head or skull
Meniere’s disease, which is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance.
acoustic neuroma, which is a noncancerous tumor that grows on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain called the “vestibular cochlear nerve”
3.Mixed Hearing Loss
3.Mixed Hearing Loss
Mixed hearing loss may also occur. This happens when both conductive hearing loss and SNHL occur at the same time.
Tinnitus is when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears. The noise you hear when you have tinnitus isn't caused by an external sound, and other people usually can't hear it. Tinnitus is a common problem. It affects about 15% to 20% of people, and is especially common in older adults.
Tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system. For many people, tinnitus improves with treatment of the underlying cause or with other treatments that reduce or mask the noise, making tinnitus less noticeable.
Tinnitus is most often described as a ringing in the ears, even though no external sound is present. However, tinnitus can also cause other types of phantom noises in your ears, including:
Buzzing
Roaring
Clicking
Hissing
Humming
Most people who have tinnitus have subjective tinnitus, or tinnitus that only you can hear. The noises of tinnitus may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal, and you may hear it in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound can be so loud it interferes with your ability to concentrate or hear external sound. Tinnitus may be present all the time, or it may come and go.
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