How hearing works

How we hear

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.

Hearing with both ears

The human body is a network of pairs: we have two eyes, ears, nostrils, arms, hands, feet and legs. The brain uses these pairs to coordinate and improve how the body works.

Similarly, our ears work as a team. We have two ears to help improve our ability to locate sound, distribute volume to better tolerate loud sounds, as well as to enjoy a better quality of sound (like hearing in ‘stereo’). Being able to hear with both ears makes it easier to understand speech and tell where sounds are coming from.¹

Hearing, communication and brain function

Hearing is the first line of developing communication skills.

For children, hearing is how they learn to recognize a parent—babies begin to notice sounds while still in the womb. It’s also an important part of learning to talk as children learn by mimicking sounds they hear. Although hearing isn’t the only way we communicate, hearing loss will affect how a person communicates and speaks.

Older people with hearing loss are more likely to develop problems, such as thinking and remembering, compared to those with normal hearing. Because the brain is the interpreter of sound, when someone loses hearing function, the connections in the brain that respond to sound are not reorganized.^2-4

As well as brain function and communication, our ears also affect our ability to balance. Those who aren't able to balance are more likely to have falls, which is why it's so important to take care of your ears and your hearing, and to get help when needed.