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Home > Hearing loss
Our ears are among the most complex of organs. They can pick up air waves and translate them into sounds in our brain, they control our balance, and they define much of how we relate to the world around us. Our ability - or lack of ability - to hear has an impact on almost every aspect of our lives.
Sounds are waves of air, or vibrations, that can be sensed by a healthy ear and are measured in a unit called 'Hertz'. The more vibrations, the higher-pitched the sound. An example of a high-pitched sound might be a piccolo or a bird singing. Low-pitched sounds could be the rumble of distant thunder or bass tones in music. The rate at which a sound wave vibrates is also called its 'frequency'.
COMPLEX SOUNDS
The characteristics of different sounds vary widely. Simple sounds such as pure tones contain one frequency only, while complex sounds consist of many frequencies. Most of the everyday sounds we hear are complex sounds. Speech, for example, consists of vibrations at different volumes and numerous frequencies, mainly in the range of 500 to 3000 Hz.
HOW THE EAR WORKS See a demo
The human ear is a sophisticated system that converts acoustic energy into an electric impulse which is than processes and interpreted by the brain.
1. Outer ear
Your outer ear acts like a dish that collects sound waves. These sound waves travel along the ear canal and vibrate against the ear drum.
2. Middle ear
In the middle ear, three tiny bones (the smallest in the body) transfer vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear. This creates ripples in the fluid, which bend the hair cells in the cochlea.
3. Inner ear
This movement, in turn, is converted into electrical impulses that are carried through the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are translated into meaningful information.
TYPES OF HEARING LOSS
Sensorineural Hearing Loss occurs when there is damage to the inner ear of the hearing nerve. This is generally permanent and accounts for approximately 95% of all hearing losses. It cannot be treated medically but can be successfully remedied with the use of hearing aids.
Conductive Hearing Loss occures when sound is not being transmitted properly to the inner ear due to a "mechanical"problem. It is often the result of damage or blockage in the outer or middle ear. In most cases, conductive hearing problems can be corrected medically.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound. Many people describe it as "ringing in the ears". Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. People can experience it temporarily or intermittently.
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