How the Ear
Works
Hearing is a remarkable process. Sound travels through the outer, middle and inner ear before being transformed into electrical signals that the brain recognises as sound.
From Sound Waves to the Brain
Every sound you hear begins as vibrations in the environment. Your ears collect those vibrations and guide them through a carefully coordinated process involving the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear and auditory nerve.
How We Hear
Click on each step to explore how sound travels through the hearing system.
Sound Enters the Ear
Sound travels through the air as sound waves and is collected by the outer ear.
The Eardrum Vibrates
Sound waves travel down the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate.
The Ossicles Move
The three tiny bones of the middle ear transfer and amplify the mechanical movement.
The Cochlea Responds
Movement causes fluid inside the cochlea to move, bending specialised hair cells.
The Brain Interprets Sound
Electrical impulses travel along the auditory nerve to the brain.
See How Hearing Works
Watch this video to see the journey sound takes through the hearing system, from the outer ear through to the brain.
Understanding how the ear normally functions can also make it easier to understand how different types of hearing loss may affect the hearing process.
Three Important Parts of the Hearing System
Select a section below to learn more.
The Outer Ear
The visible part of the ear is called the pinna, or auricle. Its natural grooves and ridges help collect sound and provide a natural boost for sounds in the frequency range where many important speech consonants are perceived.
The Ear Canal
The ear canal, also known as the external auditory meatus, directs sound from the outer ear towards the eardrum. It is lined with skin and fine hair and has an abundant blood supply.
Ear wax, also called cerumen, normally acts as a protective barrier for the skin against bacteria and moisture. Ear wax is a normal part of ear function unless it completely blocks the ear canal.
The Middle Ear
The eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane, forms the dividing structure between the outer ear and the middle ear. Although it is extremely thin, it consists of three layers that help provide strength.
The Ossicles
Directly behind the eardrum are three tiny bones called the ossicles. These bones form a connected chain and transfer mechanical vibrations from the eardrum towards the inner ear.
The Eustachian Tube
The Eustachian tube helps equalise air pressure in the middle ear. It is normally closed but can open when swallowing, yawning or chewing.
This is also why you may experience a soft popping sensation when pressure changes, such as during air travel.
The Inner Ear
The inner ear is located deep within the temporal bone. It contains two important structures: the semicircular canals and the cochlea.
Semicircular Canals
These structures do not contribute directly to hearing, but play an important role in helping us maintain balance as we move.
The Cochlea
The cochlea is the hearing organ of the inner ear. It is a fluid-filled structure that resembles a snail.
Mechanical vibrations create movement in the cochlear fluid. This movement bends specialised sensory cells known as hair cells. The hair cells convert this movement into electrical signals.
These signals travel along the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as sound.
Amazing Frequency Range
The cochlea is arranged according to frequency, much like the keys of a piano, allowing the human hearing system to encode sounds from approximately 20 Hz at the lower end of the hearing range up to around 20,000 Hz at the higher end.
Your Hearing System is Remarkable
Sound is Vibration
Everything we hear begins as vibrations travelling through the environment as sound waves.
Tiny Bones, Big Job
The middle ear contains three tiny bones that work together to transfer vibrations towards the inner ear.
The Brain Completes the Process
The ears collect and convert sound, but the brain is where those electrical signals become meaningful sounds.
Understanding Your Hearing Matters
If you have concerns about your hearing, a professional audiological assessment can help identify and understand changes in your hearing.