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"I now use a streamer with my cell phone and I can hear people so clearly now, it is almost like being in a sound booth with one other person. I had tears of joy in Robin's office one day. It is emotionally and physically draining when you are straining to hear others or trying to read lips. I can now say that with Robin's help my quality of life has greatly improved." Read More...
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Hearing begins when the outer ear, the visible portion of the ear that is on the outside of the head, channels sound waves down the auditory canal. This tube-like passageway is lined with tiny hairs and small glands that produce ear wax.
The middle ear lies at the end of the auditory canal. It is composed of the ear drum and three small bones, known by the layman as the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. When sound waves hit the ear drum, it vibrates and, in turn, moves the hammer. The hammer moves the anvil, which moves the stirrup, transmitting the vibrations into the inner ear. The middle ear functions to amplify sound, which is why significant hearing loss can result from any disruption in any of the parts.
The inner ear consists of the cochlea and the nerve of hearing. It converts sound waves into nerve impulses that travel to the brain via the movement of tiny hair cells. The brain, in turn, allows us to hear…as long as the message it is receiving is not distorted due to problems in the process just described.
Click here to learn about the types and causes of hearing loss.>>
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