Anatomy of The Ear

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Anatomy of The Ear Exactly how does a hearing disability affect your quality of life? Take our quiz... See what current hearing aids are available - in a variety of shapes and sizes! Contact Webmaster for questions or comments regarding this website	Hearing Loss
		Hearing loss facts Hearing loss is second only to arthritis as the most common complaint of older adults Only about 10% of hearing losses are helped by surgery or other medical treatment 90% of hearing losses can be treated with the use of hearing instruments Only 16% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss Noise above 80-90 decibels on average over an 8 hour workday is considered hazardous Firearms, music, airplanes, lawnmowers, power tools and many appliances are louder than 80 decibels and potentially hazardous to hearing with prolonged exposure A live rock concert produces sounds from 110 to 120 decibels, easily high enough to cause permanent damage to hearing over a two-to-three hour period How hearing works We don't just hear with our ears - we hear with our brains. How does it work? Find out how simple vibration becomes a birdcall, a rock lyric, or the blast of a jackhammer. While the outer ear is a great place to display jewelry, it's specifically designed to transmit sound. Sound begins as motion. When objects vibrate, molecules of air are set in motion and transmitted as sound waves. The outer ear's bell-like contours guide and focus these sound waves into the ear canal, where they're aided and amplified by its spiraling shape. This natural phenomenon works so well we copy it to hear even better: a radio announcer cups his hand around his ear, simultaneously gathering sound in and blocking background noise out. Once inside the ear canal, sound waves travel on until they reach the eardrum, the dividing point between the outer and middle ear.