We already explained what noise is, sound waves that propagate through the air.
Our ears are exceptionally fine and delicate hearing ‘instruments’ and should be well protected. With our ears we can detect, differentiate, filter, and identify sounds.
When those sound waves travel through the air, they will first reach your outer ear and be channelled to your middle ear area where the sound is amplified. The soundwaves will hit your eardrum and make it vibrate. These vibrations are then transmitted to the inner ear. The snail shaped inner ear is called cochlea.
In the inner ear the vibrations are converted into nerve impulses which travel to the hearing center of your brain. This happens by stimulating and moving tiny hair-like nerve ending. Your brain recognizes and processes these nerve impulses and lets you know what you are hearing.
How do we hear?
What is the sensitive part that can induce hearing loss?
Noise induced hearing loss happens when those hair-like nerve endings (scientific name stereocilia) that sit on top of the hair’s cells are damaged. They will be damaged or even destroyed by too loud noise or noise exposure for extended time. This type of hearing loss is permanent, non-reversible!! The inner ear
The best and only way to prevent hearing loss is to NOT EXPOSE yourself to LOUD NOISES. Be aware of your surroundings and protect your ears when needed, be it at home, at leisure or at work!
