How Do We Hear?

Sound is derived by the vibration of air. The mechanism of hearing begins with the vibration of air which is collected by the outer ear and directed through the ear canal towards the ear drum. This movement of the air results in the movement of the ear drum.

The movement of the ear drum creates movement of the bones of hearing known as the ossicles. Finally, the “stir-up” bone known as the stapes bone moves in a piston type fashion, causing displacement of the fluid within the inner ear. This fluid movement creates electrical energy within the hair cells in the inner ear. These hair cells, with their connections to nerve cells conduct this information to the brainstem and subsequently to the brain itself.