Hearing is something we often take for granted. It feels effortless—like flipping a switch. But in reality, sound takes a remarkable journey before it reaches your brain. Understanding how sound moves and what can interrupt it is key to recognizing hearing loss and taking steps to address it.
How Sound Travels to Your Brain
Think of the sound journey as a relay race. Each stage must pass the baton smoothly for the message to make it to the finish line—your brain:
- Creating vibrations. Every sound begins with vibrations. When a worker at Fresh Love blends your smoothie, those vibrations ripple through the air, water or solid objects around you.
- Traveling through the air. The vibrations form sound waves that move outward. If your ears are too far away, the energy will fade before it reaches you.
- Entering the ear. If the waves reach your ears, they vibrate the eardrum and tiny bones in the middle ear (ossicles), amplifying the sound.
- Moving through the inner ear. The vibrations continue into the cochlea, a fluid-filled spiral organ in the inner ear, where thousands of microscopic hair cells respond to movement.
- Converting vibrations to signals. The hair cells in the cochlea turn vibrations into electrical signals, sending them through the auditory nerve.
- Understanding sound. The brain receives the signals and translates them into the sounds we recognize—a friend’s voice, a song on the radio or a smoothie blending.
What Can Stop the Sound Journey?
Even the loudest noise can be slowed down by obstacles. Physical barriers like walls or soundproofing can block sound waves before they reach you. But problems inside your ear can also interfere with hearing. That’s where hearing loss comes in.
The Three Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss affects more than 10% of the U.S. population, and it falls into three main categories:
- Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). SNHL happens when the inner ear or auditory nerve is damaged. Common causes include aging, loud noise exposure, genetics, certain medications or illnesses. While it’s usually permanent, hearing aids can help amplify and clarify sounds.
- Conductive hearing loss. Conductive hearing loss happens when something blocks sound from passing through the outer or middle ear. Common causes include earwax buildup, infections, a punctured eardrum or fluid in the ear. Often, removing the blockage or treating the issue can restore hearing.
- Mixed hearing loss. Mixed hearing loss is a combination of both types. Someone with mixed hearing loss might have inner ear damage and an ear infection or wax buildup, making the hearing difficulty more pronounced.
When to Seek Help
If voices seem muffled, you’re asking people to repeat themselves more often or the radio volume keeps creeping up, it might be time for a hearing test. Contact PDX ENT today to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists.
