- Home
- Patient Forms
- Services
- How The Ear Works
- Audiological Testing
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)
- Custom Earmolds And Ear Plugs
- How-To Videos
- Implantable Devices
- Over-The-Counter (OTC) Hearing Aids
- Vestibular Testing
- Wax Management
- Hearing Aids
- Tinnitus Management
- Blog
- Review Us
- Contact Us
Hearing
Balance
Hearing
While hearing loss can take many forms, it’s essential for the intricate pathway of the ear to function correctly.
Any noise (loud or soft, near or far) travels to our ears and is processed by our brain at lightning speed, and if any part of your ear isn’t working right, it can have a considerable impact on your life.
Normal Hearing Function
- Sound is transmitted through the air as sound waves.
- These waves are gathered by your outer ear, which continue down the ear canal to the eardrum.
- The sound waves cause the eardrum to vibrate, which sets the three tiny bones in the middle ear into motion.
- The vibration of the three bones amplifies the sound, which is then sent into the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear.
- In the cochlea, sound vibrations travel through fluid, causing a membrane to flex and bend. Covering this membrane are thousands of tiny sensory cells that activate when bent.
- The bending of the sensory hair cells creates an electrical impulse that travels through the auditory nerve and up to the brain, where it is interpreted as sound.
The Outer Ear
The pinna (or auricle) is a part of the outer ear that we usually call the ear. The pinna, with its grooves and ridges, provides a natural volume boost for sounds in the 2000 to 3000 Hz frequency range, where we perceive many consonant sounds of speech..
The ear canal, also called the external auditory meatus, is the other important outer ear landmark. Earwax (cerumen) will build up in the ear canal and serves as a protective barrier to the skin from bacteria and moisture. Earwax is completely normal! However, once it starts to block your ear canal, it’s time to get it removed by a professional.
The Middle Ear
The eardrum, or tympanic membrane, divides the outer ear and middle ear. Although it is a fragile membrane, the eardrum is made up of three layers to increase its strength. The eardrum translates acoustical sound waves to mechanical vibrations.
The ossicles are the three tiny bones of the middle ear located directly behind the tympanic membrane. These are the three tiny bones (the smallest in the human body) in the middle ear:
- - Malleus (hammer): Embedded in the innermost layer of the eardrum
- - Incus (anvil)
- - Stapes (stirrup): Connected to an opening on the cochlea called the oval window.
The ossicles translate the mechanical vibrations received at the eardrum into the inner ear.
The Eustachian tube is the middle ear’s air pressure equalizing system. The middle ear is surrounded by bone, so its only interaction with outside air is through the Eustachian tube. This tubular structure is normally closed, but it can be involuntarily opened by swallowing, yawning, or chewing. It can also be intentionally opened to equalize pressure in the ears, like when flying in an airplane. When this happens, you might hear a soft popping sound.
The Inner Ear
The inner ear is located deep within the temporal bone, which is the bone of the skull on both sides of the head above the outer ear. The inner ear has two main structures: the cochlea and the vestibular system.
The cochlea is the hearing organ of the inner ear, which is a fluid-filled structure that looks like a snail’s shell. The cochlea changes the mechanical vibrations from the eardrum and the ossicles into a sequence of electrical impulses. Within the fluid is a frequency-specific membrane covered in hair cells (sensory cells) that bend as the mechanical vibrations disrupt the fluid. This bending of the hair cells causes electrical signals to be sent to the brain by way of the auditory nerve. The cochlea is arranged by frequency (high pitch to low pitch), and can process sounds from 20,000Hz (high pitch) to 20Hz (low pitch) in humans.
The vestibular system does not contribute to hearing, but it is the main organ that assists in maintaining balance as we move.
Balance
Balance problems can have many causes, but a balance organ is imperative to maintaining your stability as you move.
Three main systems that help you maintain your balance:
- Sight: provides depth perception and helps orient yourself in space.
- Touch: provides sensory information through hands and feet to assist with your position and orientation.
- Balance organ: Uses the force of gravity to detect motion and give the brain information about where the head is in space.
If there is a limited or loss of function of any of these senses, you may have the sensation of dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance.
The balance organs are contained in the inner ear, located deep within the temporal bone (part of the skull just above your outer ear). The inner ear has three main structures: the vestibule, semicircular canals, and the cochlea.
The semicircular canals are a group of three fluid-filled loops that are arranged in different planes and detect rotational movements in the head. Each canal has a clump of hair cells embedded in a jelly-like mass called the ampulla. When your head moves, the fluid in the canal moves, which then causes the tiny hairs to move. The bending of those hair cells sends an electrical signal through the vestibular nerve to the brain, which tells your body how to stay balanced.
The vestibule is split into two sections: the utricle and saccule. Together, they are known as the otolith organs, and they play a vital role in helping you sense gravity and linear movements.
The utricle primarily detects horizontal movements, such as moving forward in a car or side to side, while the saccule detects vertical movements, like riding in an elevator or jumping up and down. Inside each organ are specialized hair cells topped with tiny crystals called otoconia. When you move your head or change position, these crystals shift, bending the hair cells and sending signals to the brain about your head’s position and motion.
This information works together with signals from your eyes and muscles to help maintain balance, posture, and spatial orientation.
Get the guidance you need to hear the life you love.
