How We Hear
Hearing involves complex processes in the outer, middle, and inner ear, converting sound waves into electrical signals interpreted by the brain.
Watch Video
How We Hear Explained
Types of Hearing Loss
Sensorineural hearing loss: Caused by damage to the sensitive hair cells inside the inner ear, or damage to the auditory nerve. Commonly seen as ‘age-related’ hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss: Sounds are unable to pass from the outer ear to the inner ear. Can be caused by a blockage inside the middle ear.
Severity Levels:
- Mild: Difficulty hearing speech in more difficult environments.
- Moderate: Difficulty hearing speech when not facing, or speaking loudly and clearly.
- Severe: Difficulty hearing a lot unless lip-reading, or focusing hard.
- Profound: Most sounds unable to be heard, speech unintelligible, aid required.
Common Conditions
Conditions include:
- Mumps, Measles, Rubella, Paget’s Disease, Usher’s Syndrome
- Acoustic Neuroma, Carcinoma, Neurofibromatosis
- RTA (skull fractures), Bell’s Palsy, Otitis Externa/Media
- Otosclerosis, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Meniere’s Disease
- Presbyacusis (age-related), Hyperacusis (sensitivity)
- Down’s Syndrome, OAD (obscure auditory dysfunction), Meningitis