Dealing with deafness can be hard, but you are not alone. This website provides information that may answer many of your challenging questions about hearing loss.
A Parent Guide to Hearing Loss
The Parts of the Ear
The outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear all make up the organ that allows us to hear. All of these parts of the ear have very important parts in each of them that play a vital role in hearing. As shown in the picture, the outer ear contains the pinna, the ear canal, and the eardrum. The middle ear is an air-filled cavity that contains three very small bones; the malleus, the incus, and the stapes. The middle ear also contains the eustachian tube; this helps the ear to control air pressure. Finally, the inner ear is a fluid-filled cavity, which contains the oval window, the cochlea, and the semi-circular canal. The cochlea is the main organ that allows hearing. Further, the semi-circular canals are lined with microscopic hairs that are filled with liquid substance. When the head is moved, it sends messages to brain to maintain balance.
Now that we have learned about the parts of the ear, let's move on to the process of hearing.
The Process of Hearing
The process of hearing involves gathering and interpreting sounds/data. Translating sounds into meaningful information to the brain is also involved in hearing. Energy in the ear changes from acoustical energy to mechanical energy, and then to electrical energy. Acoustical energy is inititally formed by sound waves in the outer ear. After sound waves hit the eardrum, mechanical energy is formed. Once the three bones are impacted in the middle ear, energy forms into electrical impulses or energy. In the inner ear, once the fluid is washed over microscopic hairs and the cochlea is disturbed, neurons are then sent to the brain, and that is how hearing is processed.
The Parts of the Ear
The Process of Hearing