HEARING LOSS

Hearing loss is caused by a variety of circumstances, but it becomes more common as we get older. Contrary to popular belief, hearing loss doesn’t have to burden your lifestyle. This is the exact reason why locals visit us at Padgett Hearing Center. Our clinicians will evaluate your hearing and provide you with direct solutions.

Human hearing occurs because sound waves enter the ear through the ear canal where the eardrum vibrates from the incoming sound waves. These vibrations travel to three tiny bones in the middle ear called the malleus, incus, and stapes. These bones take the vibrations and translate them to fluid vibrations in the cochlea of the inner ear, which is filled with fluid. The vibrations will cause this fluid to ripple traveling along the basilar membrane. Hair cells located on the membrane move up and down along with microscopic hair-like projects called stereocilia. These hair cells bump and bend against the structure causing pore-like channels, located at the tips of the stereocilia, to open up. Chemicals then rush into the cell, creating an electrical signal. The auditory nerve carries this signal to the brain which translates it into the sound we hear.