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Introducing hearing

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What is hearing?

Hearing is the ability to detect and understand sounds in the environment.

Our two ears work together to help us understand:

If a sound is loud or soft
The direction of the source of sound.

Our ears also work together to help us recognize someone’s speech in different environments.

Why do we need to hear?

Hearing:

Helps us communicate with our family and friends for our everyday needs
Is important for development of speech in children
Warns us of danger around us (approaching train or vehicle or alarm).

Question

Which of these situations use hearing to warn us of possible danger?

Select all that apply.

Click to check answer

If you selected a, b, c and d, you are correct!

These are all warnings of potential danger that use hearing.

e is incorrect.

This uses vision to warn us of danger.

How do we hear?

Our ears help us to hear. Ears collect sound vibrations and change them into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. When these signals reach the brain, we hear sounds and can recognize them. All parts of the ear must be working properly to have good hearing.

Three parts of the ear are involved in how we hear.

Outer ear collects sounds from the air and directs them into the ear canal
Middle ear makes the sounds louder
Inner ear changes the sounds into electrical signals.

The brain receives and processes the sounds.

Instruction

Read on to learn about the different parts of the ear.

Outer ear

The outer ear includes the pinna and ear canal.

At the front of the pinna is the tragus. The tragus is at the entrance to the ear canal.

The ear canal produces wax. Wax helps protect the ear and clean it of dirt. It normally passes out of the ear canal by itself.

Activity

Find the tragus on your ear and press it gently to close off the ear canal. Is it painful?

A healthy ear should not be painful when gently pressing the tragus.

Warning

Pain or discomfort could be a sign of an ear problem.

Middle ear

The middle ear includes the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and middle ear space with small hearing bones.

The eardrum separates the ear canal and middle ear.

Sounds are made louder in the middle ear when they pass through the hearing bones.

Reflection

The middle ear is connected to the back of the nose by a tube. If you have a cold, you may have a feeling of being blocked up and have pain in your ear.

Have you ever felt blocked in one or both of your ears when you have a cold?
Did you experience pain in your ear?

Inner ear

The inner ear is made of two parts:

The cochlea is responsible for hearing. Sounds are changed into electrical signals, which travel from the hearing nerve to the brain.
The vestibular system gives information to the brain, which helps us to balance. Problems in this area can make us feel dizzy or not stable.

What is hearing loss and Deafness?

Hearing loss is a condition when a person is not able to hear as well as a person with normal hearing. Conversations can be difficult in quiet and noisy environments.

Hearing loss can range from mild to profound.

People with mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss in one or both ears will have difficulty following conversations. This is referred to as ‘hard of hearing’.
People with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears are Deaf.

Instruction

People who are Deaf are not included in this module. They have more complex needs. Refer to an ear and hearing professional.

Learn more about mild, moderate, severe and profound hearing loss in the TAP Preprogrammed hearing aids module.

Tip

A person with hearing loss may benefit from referral to other rehabilitation services for different ways to support their communication.

Activity

In pairs:

One person blocks their ear on both sides by pressing the tragus or by using earplugs
The other person uses their normal voice and tries to have a conversation.

This is how it feels to have mild to moderate hearing loss.