ACE Hearing Centers

How Hearing Works

Sound waves enter the outer ear, which consists of the pinna and ear canal.
The sound waves enter the middle ear by means of vibrating the eardrum.
The eardrum transfers sound to the three tiny bones of the middle ear (malleus, incus and stapes, also known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup).
The movement of the bones causes fluid displacement within the inner ear (cochlea, or organ of hearing).
As the fluid moves within the cochlea, thousands of tiny hair cells are put into motion. It is the movement of the hair cells which create electrical impulses that send information along the auditory nerve to the brain.
Once the brain receives the auditory information, it processes and decodes it. This is how we understand what we hear.

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Types of Hearing Loss

There are three different types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural and mixed (a combination of conductive and sensorineural).

Conductive hearing loss is due to a complication with either the outer or middle ear, which prevents sound from traveling to the inner ear. An example of something that may cause a conductive hearing loss is impacted wax in the ear canal.
A sensorineural hearing loss is due to a complication of the inner ear, usually damage to hair cells or nerve fibers. Most sensorineural hearing loss is due to aging or loud noise exposure.
A mixed hearing loss occurs when there is a complication of the outer/middle and inner ear.

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Degrees of Hearing Loss

Degrees of hearing loss range from mild to moderate, severe and profound across a broad range of frequencies. Depending on the degree and configuration of hearing loss, individuals may have very different listening experiences.