How We Hear

Sound is all around you, and your ears are designed to capture it. Your ears catch sound waves from the air and turn them into electrical signals. These signals travel to your brain, which figures out what you are hearing. The whole process happens almost instantly.

The Journey of Sound

Sound waves enter your outer ear and travel down the ear canal. They hit a thin membrane called the eardrum and make it vibrate. The vibrations pass through three tiny bones in the middle ear. These bones amplify the sound and send the vibrations to the inner ear.

From Vibrations to Signals

The inner ear contains a snail-shaped organ called the cochlea. It is filled with fluid and lined with tiny hair cells. When vibrations reach the cochlea, the fluid moves and bends the hair cells. The hair cells turn the movement into electrical signals. These signals travel along the auditory nerve to your brain.

Fun Facts

• The three tiny bones in your middle ear are the smallest bones in your body.
• Your ears can tell the difference between thousands of different sounds.
• Sounds above 85 decibels, like a lawn mower, can damage your hearing over time.

Did You Know?

Your ears also help you keep your balance! The inner ear has fluid-filled canals that detect movement and tilt. When the fluid shifts, your brain knows which way is up and keeps you from falling over.