How Our Hearing System Works And Which Methods Are Used for Testing an Individual's Hearing System?
How Our Hearing System Works
If you or someone you know has
experienced hearing loss, whether it is temporary or permanent, you probably
have questions that you are eager to get answers to. To get a better idea as to
how hearing loss happens, it's important to first understand just how hearing
works.
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Your ears are very sensitive organs. They are extremely unique because they are completely mechanical. Unlike your sense of smell, taste and vision, all of which involve chemical reactions, your hearing system is based exclusively on physical movement. As an object produces sound (vibrations in matter) we hear that sound traveling through the air. As sound travels, it vibrates air particles around it which then carries the pulse of the vibration through the air and into our ear. We are then able to make sense of the sounds our ear is catching. The vibrations being sent through the air are better known as "sound waves".
Nearly all sound waves are unique.
Some sound waves may be high or low pitched, all depending on the frequency of
the vibration. When our ears catch these sound waves, they are able to
interpret them into messages our brain can then make sense of. Those that
suffer from some sort of hearing loss will not be able to capture these sound
waves.
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There are three major sections of
the year. These include the following:
Outer Ear: The outer part of your ear (the part you can see) and the ear canal is considered the "outer ear". Sound is captured from the outer ear and travels down the ear canal to the eardrum.
Middle Ear: Your eardrum and three
very small bones inside the ear are considered the "middle ear".
These small bones are called the "Malleus", "Incus" and the
"Stapes". Many people refer to these three bones as the hammer, anvil
and stirrup. Sound passed down from the outer ear causes the eardrum to
vibrate. This vibrations is then passed over these three bones into the inner
ear.
Inner Ear: The inner ear is the part
within our ear that actually turns sound waves into sounds our brain can
understand. The part in our ear that makes this happen is called the cochlea.
Signals travel on the hearing nerve to the brain which can then be turned from
"noise" into sounds that are identifiable
Methods for Testing an Individual's Hearing System
Audiogram
Audiograms are a method for testing
your hearing in a sound proof room while utilizing sophisticated and calibrated
equipment. Trained audiologists will normally administer the test to you.
Earphones will need to go over your ears. Tones will then be presented to
either ear, but only one at a time. Recordings are done to document the softest
level of sounds you are able to hear.
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Tympanometry
This is a common practice involving
a pressure probe with a small amount of pressure into the ear. The test helps
to assess the amount of pressure inside of the middle ear, which may also help
in detecting fluid, problems within the bones of the middle ear and various
other conditions.
Site of Lesion Testing
This testing involves using regular
equipment such as that of an audiogram, accompanied with many other tests to
figure out where the problem is hiding. This testing might include:
• Comparing one ear's hearing with
the other ear
• Detecting even the smallest
changes in terms of signal intensity
• Testing one's ability to hear even
when in a noisy environment
• Testing one's ability to hear a
sentence when placed in both ears simultaneously
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BERA
BERA involves a sophisticated round
of computerized equipment for testing. Sounds are inserted into the ear and the
response from the brainstem is then recorded through electrodes taped on the
patient's head. This form of testing can prove to be extremely helpful with:
• Distinguishing any sensory from
any neural causes in relation to loss of hearing
• Helping with localizing problems
within the auditory pathway of the brainstem
• Determining the individual's
ability to hear sounds that are softer, in a select few cases
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Other Forms of Testing
Someone experiencing noise in their
ears can undergo various forms of testing. It might be possible to measure
one's frequency and varying intensity levels within the tinnitus. There is also
the option of using tests to help determine whether the condition can be masked
or suppressed.
Since the individual person's ear is
divided into sections for balance and hearing that are correlated, testing
one's balance might be proper in helping those suffering from sensorineural
loss of hearing. This type of testing might be useful for those who do not
display a problem with their balance.
The commonly used tests for balance
include:
• Electronystagmography -
Involves measurement of the eye movements and stimulation of the body's vestibular system, which aids in providing balance. This type of testing might not be available everywhere, but it can prove quite valuable for some people.
• Computerized Dynamic Posturography -
It rests the overall function relating to balance through a computerized
testing platform. The test can provide you with information specifically used
in coordination with that of an ENG.
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Testing Not Linked Directly to One's Hearing
Due to how complex the hearing
system is, and all the components affecting it, often an evaluation might need
to be performed on other parts of the body. Normally, it will involve imaging
studies and blood tests. Some types of imaging studies might include the
following:
• An MRI to help scan the nerves of
the inner ear and the brain
• A CT to help look at all of the
bones inside of the ear
• MRA's to help produce an image
regarding the blood vessels going into the brain
• SPECT for producing images
relating to microscopic amounts of blood flowing into the brain
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Synapse XT - Brain Health & Hearing Improvement https://bit.ly/3Ksb0B3 |
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What hearing loss and tinnitus do to your brain
Brain doctors were shocked when they saw this
They couldn’t believe that all of hearing loss and tinnitus suffers have this one deeply disturbing thing in common
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Hearing loss and tinnitus are, in fact,
a symptom of another hidden condition
Find out more here:
What hearing loss does to your brain
Synapse XT - Brain Health & Hearing Improvement https://bit.ly/3Ksb0B3 |
Synapse XT - Brain Health & Hearing Improvement https://bit.ly/3Ksb0B3 |
Synapse XT - Brain Health & Hearing Improvement https://bit.ly/3Ksb0B3 |
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