The sound you have heard so far does not just happen, but there is a process that allows you to hear. The process of hearing occurs when sound is captured by the outer ear, then transmitted to other parts of the ear.
The ear has three main parts, namely the outer, middle, and inner. In the listening process, these three parts will work continuously. All these parts must be in ideal condition, so that the sound can be processed properly.
In addition, in the ear there is also an eustachian tube which functions to maintain air pressure so that sound can be delivered properly into the ear.
Supporting Parts of the Listening Process
To understand the process of hearing, you need to first know the parts of the ear, namely:
Outer ear
The outer ear acts like a funnel, which collects sound waves and transmits them to the eardrum. The outer ear consists of two parts, namely the auricle (pinna) and the ear canal.
middle ear
The middle ear functions to transfer sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. There are three ossicles that make up the middle ear and function to transmit sound vibrations, namely: malleus, incus, and stapes.
inner ear
The inner ear functions to transmit sound to the central nervous system (brain) and helps balance. There are several parts of the inner ear, two of which are the cochlea and the organ of corti.
These parts of the ear are intertwined and work together to ensure that the hearing process takes place perfectly.
Understanding the Listening Process
The process of hearing begins with the sound that is around, in the form of vibrations or waves, captured by the outer ear. Then the vibrations are transmitted to the ear canal so that it puts pressure or a blow on the eardrum (tympanic membrane). When the eardrum vibrates, the vibrations are transmitted to the eardrum.
The ossicles amplify these vibrations and transmit them to the inner ear. When it reaches the inner ear, the vibrations are converted into electrical impulses and sent to the auditory nerve in the brain. The brain will then translate these impulses as sound.
Keep in mind that the ear not only functions as the main organ of the sense of hearing, but also plays a role in maintaining the balance of the body. These functions are specifically supported by cooperation with other organs.
Some of the organs that are interrelated in maintaining the balance function of the body are:
- Inner ear.
- Various receptors of the body, such as skin, joints, and muscles.
- Eye.
These organs will receive information about the position of the body, and send it to the brain for processing. That way, the brain can regulate the direction of the head and body movements to adjust.
By understanding the hearing process, it is hoped that you will be more careful in caring for the health and cleanliness of the hearing organ, both visible from the outside or not.
If there are complaints in your ears, such as ringing in the ears, reduced ability to hear (eg deafness, such as conductive deafness), or pain in the ears, immediately consult an ENT doctor so that they can be treated before the condition gets worse. To help with impaired hearing, your doctor may suggest the use of hearing aids or the installation of a cochlear implant.