Can you hear everything clearly? Let's talk about Hearing!

We all interact with the world through our five senses . Hearing is one of the most important of these. Have you ever thought about how complex this process of hearing is and how important it is to our lives? Today, we will talk about what hearing, or in medical terms, `(Auditory Processing)` is, how it happens, and what we need to do to keep our ears healthy.

What exactly is hearing?

Simply put, hearing is the ability to identify sounds around us and give them meaning. It is not just a matter of hearing a sound. It is a very complex process. Just like a talented orchestra coming together to create beautiful music, the various parts of our ears and the auditory nervous system work together to accomplish this task.

Did you know that our ears have these parts? (Our auditory system)

For us to hear well, all of these parts of our auditory system need to work properly. Let's take a look at what these parts are.

1. Outer Ear

This is the part of the ear that we can see outside. Your ear The auricle (sometimes called the pinna) and the ear canal (also called the auditory canal) belong to the outer ear. The auricle works like a funnel. That is, its job is to collect sound waves from the surrounding area and send them through the ear canal. It's like the big mouth of an old-fashioned gramophone.

2. Middle Ear

The middle ear starts with the tympanic membrane , which is at the very end of your ear canal. Then there are three very small bones. These are called the ossicles . They even have names: the malleus, the incus, and the stapes. They look like little toys, don't they? These bones are what take the vibrations that hit the eardrum and carry them to the inner ear.

3. Inner Ear

The inner ear has a very interesting, snail-shaped structure. This is called the cochlea . Inside this cochlea are many tiny hair cells . They are like the bristles of a small brush. When sound vibrations reach these hair cells, they vibrate, sending a message to our auditory nerve.

4. Auditory Nervous System

Our The auditory nerve runs from the previously mentioned cochlea through the brain stem to a special center in the brain (nucleus). From there, these nerve impulses travel to the temporal lobe of the brain. That's where the brain interprets these incoming signals as "Ah... this is that sound."

How do we hear? How this amazing process happens

Now that we know about the parts of the ear, let's look at how all of this comes together to help us recognize a sound. This is a step-by-step process:

1. Sound waves (think of the vibrations from someone talking or a song) travel through your ear canal and hit your eardrum. This causes the eardrum to vibrate .

2. These vibrations travel from the eardrum through the middle ear along three small bones (ossicles).

3. Next, the vibrations from these three bones travel to the cochlea, a snail-like structure in the inner ear.

4. The tiny hair cells inside the cochlea are stimulated by these vibrations. When they are stimulated, they send messages, such as electrical signals, to the auditory nerve.

5. Finally, the auditory nerve carries these messages to the brain. The brain is the one that "translates" these incoming signals and makes us understand things like, "Oh... that's a bird singing" or "Mom talking."

Simply put, our sense of hearing actually comes to life inside our brains! Isn't that amazing?

What things can affect our hearing?

Unfortunately, some diseases, habits, and other factors can affect our hearing. Let's take a look at what they are.

• Aging: As we age, it is normal for our hearing, like our other senses, to gradually deteriorate. Long-term exposure to loud noises, certain diseases, and certain medications can all contribute to this age-related hearing loss .
• Ear trauma: Some people try to clean their ears by inserting cotton swabs into their ears. If they make a mistake, the eardrum can rupture . Also, things like a hard blow to the ear or a hard blow to the head can damage the delicate parts inside the ear.
• Certain diseases: People with diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are more likely to develop hearing problems. This is because these diseases can reduce the blood supply to the ear and auditory system.
• Certain medications: Some medications, especially some strong medications for diseases like cancer, can cause hearing loss. When you start any new medication, it's a good idea to ask your doctor about possible side effects.
• Exposure to loud noise: Long-term exposure to loud noise (for example, working in a noisy factory for years) can damage the delicate structures of the inner ear and lead to hearing loss. This can also happen suddenly (for example, if you hear a gunshot or a firecracker nearby). The more you are exposed to loud noise, the more damage you can do to your hearing. However, noise-induced hearing loss is 100% preventable. It can be prevented by wearing earplugs or earmuffs.
• Earwax: It is normal and healthy to have cerumen in the ear canal. However, sometimes this wax can build up too much and block sound from reaching the eardrum. This can also cause hearing loss. When this happens, it is best to have a doctor remove the wax and then hear clearly again. Never try to remove wax yourself by inserting sharp objects into your ear.

When should we see a doctor?

If you suddenly experience hearing loss, even in one ear, you should see a doctor immediately. It is especially important to seek medical advice within the first 72 hours to reduce the risk of complications, such as permanent hearing loss.

There are specialists who treat hearing problems. These are not your family doctor (Primary Care Physician - PCP).

• Audiologist: These are the people who diagnose and treat non-medical hearing and balance problems.
• Otolaryngologist (ENT): As the name suggests, these doctors treat diseases related to the ear, throat, and nose .
• Otologist: These people focus specifically on ear health and medical and surgical treatments related to the ear.

If you feel that your hearing has changed, and you can't understand what others are saying, or if everyone is mumbling, you should definitely see a specialist and get advice. Since hearing loss can happen gradually, it's a good idea to get your hearing checked regularly. This is especially important if someone in your family has hearing loss.

How do doctors check for hearing loss?

An audiologist will give you an audiogram . In this test, the doctor will put headphones on you and play different sounds through them. When you hear a sound, you have to press a button. This will measure how well you can hear different sounds. The test is done in a soundproof booth in the doctor's office.

How can we keep our ears healthy and safe?

Just like our eyes, our ears are also very valuable. Here are some things you can do to take care of them:

• Use earplugs or earmuffs during loud activities, such as concerts, riding motorcycles, snowmobiling, or working with loud machinery.
• When listening to music with headphones or earbuds, keep the volume low enough that you can still hear what people around you are saying. Another good rule of thumb is to not listen to music at more than 80% volume for more than 90 minutes a day.
• Do not insert anything into the ear canal, such as cotton swabs or hairpins. These items can get stuck in the ear or damage the eardrum.
• Avoid smoking. Smoking can impair blood circulation and damage hearing.
• Exercise regularly to prevent diseases that can affect hearing, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
• If you have a chronic illness, manage it properly to prevent further damage.

Remember, our hearing is something we use every day, but don't think about it much. But it's our responsibility to protect it.

What is auditory perception?

This is also related to hearing. Auditory perception is the ability to recognize sounds, give them meaning, and understand them. Simply put, understanding what you hear.

What is the importance of listening?

Hearing is what allows us to become aware of our surroundings and connect with the world. Think of the beautiful songs of birds, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, the voices of our loved ones... We can experience all of this because we can hear well.

Hearing is one of our five basic human senses. Many people have difficulty hearing. In fact, more than 37 million adults in the United States alone are said to have some degree of hearing loss. But today, there are many treatments and devices that can improve your hearing, such as hearing aids , cochlear implants , and bone anchored implants. There are also ways to help people with severe hearing loss communicate better. If you have difficulty hearing, talk to a doctor about your options.

Finally, remember this.

So, from what we've talked about today, you should understand how valuable our ears are, and how important it is to take care of them.

• Love your ears. Don't hurt them with loud noises.
• If you notice anything unusual in your ear, pain, or a change in your hearing, don't ignore it. See a doctor right away.
• Living a healthy lifestyle is good for your entire body, as well as your ears.

Our hearing is a precious gift we have been given. It is up to us to protect it. If you want to know more about this, you can leave a comment below. Let's all stay healthy!

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