Hearing health basics
How does hearing work?
Our ears are an amazing engineering feat. The ear canal serves as a pathway for sound waves from the outer to the inner ear. Sound waves hit the eardrum, a cushion connected to three small bones that move when activated. These bones are linked to a pea-sized, snail-shaped structure filled with fluid and tiny hair cell bundles that translate sound into frequencies. The auditory nerve then carries these frequencies to the brain, where they are interpreted as sounds.
Pinpointing sound
What's directional hearing?
When a shout or noise comes from behind you, you may not realize it, but your head turns automatically to the source of the sound. This is called directional hearing.
Directional hearing is our own private GPS of sound. It happens when both ears work in harmony and is one of the many reasons why hearing aids come in pairs—one for each ear. Having a balance of sound and the ability to distinguish right from left and forward or behind helps you stay aware of your surroundings and communicate more effectively.
Do you have trouble pinpointing sound?
Preventing hearing loss
Protecting your hearing health
Hearing is a beautiful thing. Not only is it essential for how we connect with the world around us, it plays a major role in our mental health, too. After all, it feeds our brains with glorious stimulation. So, what can you keep in mind when it comes to taking care of yourself and, ultimately, your hearing health?
- Earbud use
If you want to do your ears a favor, reduce the amount of time you use earbuds to an hour a day, and make sure to turn down the volume. More than 1 minute of exposure to sound over 100 dB can cause permanent damage.
- Your cardiovascular health
Sufficient blood flow is essential for healthy ears. Proper circulation means your ears are being fed with the oxygen they need to function well. A healthy diet and regular exercise can help keep your body running like a well-oiled machine, including your ears.
- The impact of bad habits
Smoking and excessive drinking can both take a toll on your hearing health. These habits can slow the flow of oxygen to your ears, which, like we mentioned above, is essential for them to function properly.
- Hearing protection
Those hair cells found in the inner ear may be small, but they are mighty. Wearing hearing protection in noisy environments can help protect the integrity of those hair cells and prevent noise-induced hearing loss and damage to your hearing health.
Hearing basics: FAQ
How do you hear?
Sound is vibration that travels through a medium, typically the air. When these vibrations reach the outer ear, this is the beginning of hearing. The ear has four main parts that sound must travel through for you to hear: the outer ear, the middle ear, the inner ear, and beyond the inner ear that includes the VIIIth nerve and the brain.
What natural remedies help for healthy hearing?
Homeopathic doctors will often prescribe Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, and Astragalus propinquus, but there are many ideas out there, about vitamin B, magnesium, zinc, etc. Just remember that it can be dangerous to trust Dr Google.
Is it possible to improve your hearing?
You can “improve” your hearing by avoiding all future contact with loud noises, for one. Once your inner-ear hair cells have been destroyed, they don’t grow back. You can also have your ears checked and professionally cleaned from excess wax for an immediate quick fix.
Are studies being done to cure hearing loss?
There are big steps being made in that direction, yes, with research into regenerating those microscopic hair cells. But for the time being, technological advances in hearing aids are your best bet to restore your hearing.
Can hearing loss be cured?
Most cases of hearing loss are permanent.
If you’re experiencing conductive hearing loss, usually caused by issues to the outer or middle ear blocking sound, your hearing can generally be restored with the proper treatment.
Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to parts of the inner ear, often from loud noise exposure or aging, and is generally permanent. While this type of hearing loss cannot be cured, a hearing care professional can help you find the right hearing aids to address your specific needs and help restore some of your hearing.
If you’re experiencing conductive hearing loss, usually caused by issues to the outer or middle ear blocking sound, your hearing can generally be restored with the proper treatment.
Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to parts of the inner ear, often from loud noise exposure or aging, and is generally permanent. While this type of hearing loss cannot be cured, a hearing care professional can help you find the right hearing aids to address your specific needs and help restore some of your hearing.
Am I a candidate for hearing instruments?
Almost anyone who is experiencing difficulty with communication due to hearing loss is a candidate for hearing instruments. There are some types of hearing loss that can be medically treated without a need for amplification (hearing aids). However, that is typically the exception and not the rule. The good news is there are usually warning signs that there is a possible hearing loss.
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