At Emory Audiology, we believe education is vital to your hearing health. We answer your questions and explain your condition so you can better manage your care.
Your ears consist of three main parts:
- Outer ear
- Middle ear
- Inner ear
Hearing Wellness
How We Hear
Outer Ear
The visible part of your outer ear is called the pinna or auricle. It collects sound waves and moves them into your ear canal. This makes the sound louder. The sound waves then travel toward your eardrum located at the end of the ear canal. When the sound waves reach your eardrum, it vibrates – just like when you hit a real drum.Middle Ear
The vibrations from the eardrum pass into your middle ear. Your middle ear contains the smallest bones in your body:
- Hammer
- Anvil
- Stirrup
The sound vibrations pass through a membrane called the oval window into fluid in your inner ear. Your eustachian tube is at the bottom of your middle ear. It connects to the back of your nose and controls the air pressure in your ear.
Inner Ear
along your auditory nerve to your brain. Your brain then interprets these signals as sound.Protect Your Hearing
To prevent hearing loss, you should protect your hearing from loud noises.
Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Normal conversation is typically about 65 dB. City traffic measures roughly 85 dB and a motorcycle engine is around 95 dB. Prolonged exposure to loud noises often causes hearing loss. The louder the sound, the faster it damages your hearing.
To protect your hearing:
- Turn down the volume
- Leave the area if the noise level becomes overly loud.
- Take a noise break whenever possible.
- Avoid loud activities and locations with excessive noise.
- Use hearing protection when in a loud environment.
Request an Appointment
To make an appointment at Emory Clinic Department of Otolaryngology Audiology Program, please call 404-778-3381.
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