Western Washington keeps people moving, between the water, the cities and the kind of outdoor life that does not slow down much.
At Harbor Audiology & Hearing Services, we run comprehensive evaluations that look at every part of your auditory system, so we have a clear and complete picture of where things stand before we make any recommendations.
How Your Ears Catch Sound
Sound starts at the outer ear, which helps catch and guide it inward. The visible part, called the pinna, is shaped to naturally pull sound into the ear canal.
As that sound moves in, it hits the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. This step matters because anything in the way, like wax or damage, can dull the sound before it gets any farther.
Moving Vibrations Through the Middle Ear
Once the eardrum moves, it sets into motion the three smallest bones in the human body: the malleus, incus and stapes. These tiny structures work together to bridge the gap between the air-filled outer ear and the fluid-filled inner ear.
Their primary job is to amplify the vibrations, making sure the signal is strong enough to pass through the cochlea’s denser environment. This mechanical process is incredibly efficient, but it can be hindered by fluid or stiffening of the bone chain, which is why our audiologists test middle ear function during every routine visit.
Processing Sound into Signals
Deep inside the inner ear, the cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ filled with fluid and thousands of microscopic hair cells. As amplified vibrations enter this chamber, they create waves in the fluid that set the hair cells in motion.
These cells act as sensors, converting physical movement into electrical impulses that the auditory nerve carries to the brain. This is where the brain finally interprets the data as recognizable speech, music or background noise.
