How Does Hearing Work?
The sense of hearing is an incredible process. Discover how our ears and our brain work together so that we can hear the world around us.
How We Hear: Step-by-Step
Everything we hear starts as a sound wave. When sound waves reach our ears, they’re turned into signals that our brain can recognise. Every part of the ear plays an important part in the hearing process.
Step 1:
Outer Ear
Sound waves, which are vibrations, enter through the outer ear and reach the middle ear to vibrate the eardrum.
The Wonders of Hearing
Our ears are constantly active. Because all the steps of hearing happen so fast, we can hear sound instantly. But if any part of this complex process doesn’t work, it can cause hearing loss.
Types of Hearing Loss
There are four main types of hearing loss. Find out more about each type, and see how hearing loss can be treated.
