How Hearing Works

Hearing is a complex process where many fragile parts of the ear work together to relay signals to the brain. In a properly functioning ear, sound is captured by the outer ear and travels through the inner ear where sound waves are converted to messages that the brain understands.

We invite you to view this video from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to learn about the “Journey of Sound to the Brain”

1. Sound waves enter the ear canal, moving toward the eardrum.
2. Vibrations caused by the sound waves on the eardrum also causes the Malleus, Incus, and Stapes bones in the middle ear to vibrate.
3. Tiny sensory hair cells within the cochlea capture the vibrations and transform them into electrical signals. Different sounds cause different types of vibration which produce how loud we perceive a sound or the type of tone.
4. The auditory nerve carries the electrical signals to the brain where they are understood as sounds.