The sense of hearing is one of the most important five senses of the body, and it is a very accurate and complex system, and it has many secrets and mysteries that you should be aware of, so we will explain to you the most important information about the sense of hearing, its most important functions and how it works? Follow this article together, you will know all the details.

What is the sense of hearing?

Hearing is a highly accurate system that contains many parts that work together according to very organized steps, and this sense refers to perceiving the sounds around us, and putting meanings for each sound.

All of this begins in the form of vibrations and sound waves passing through the different parts of the ear and then transmitted to the brain to be perceived and heard, and this is through the nerves designated for that within your body.

How does the hearing process take place?

The parts of the ear work together at the same time, starting from the collection of sound and waves, through the transmission of these waves or auditory signals to the brain, and this process takes place as follows:

• Sound waves pass from the outside into the external auditory canal of the ear.
• The waves collect in the canal and strike the tympanic membrane, or eardrum.
• The eardrum, after sound is directed at it, sends vibrations to the middle ear.
• As the middle ear vibrates, the chain of three bones known as the auditory bone also vibrates.
• With the vibration of the ossicles, a wave of fluid is sent to the inner ear so that the movement of the fluid is measured and the waves and signals sent to the brain.
• After that, the auditory perception of these waves takes place in the form of distinct and different sounds.

Things that affect the sense of hearing

There are many problems that can affect the sense of hearing and our hearing capabilities, causing weakness or loss, and the most prominent cases that endanger the sense of hearing:

1- The ear has been traumatized or damaged

This is in the case of pushing something into the ear, which may lead to perforation of the eardrum, and thus the ear will be exposed to a strong shock, and if the head is also exposed to trauma, this may cause damage to the ear, and as a result of this the ear will be exposed to hearing problems, whether temporary or permanent.

2- Old age

This is because with age and our exposure to many different sounds, in addition to our exposure to pollution and toxins more, all of this affects hearing negatively, and causes its weakness, and this condition is one of the most common cases that the elderly are exposed to.

3- Medications

There are many medications, especially those used to treat infections, cancer, and heart disease, that may cause damage to your hearing, so caution must be taken and the complications of some medications not to worsen.

4- Various diseases

There are some diseases that may cause ear problems as complications of these diseases, and among these diseases are diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, and this comes as a result of the lack of blood flow to the ear.

5- Loud voices

Exposure to high and loud sounds for long periods can lead to damage to the structures of the inner ear and thus exposure at times to the occurrence of hearing loss, so it is always recommended to use earplugs and protective devices if you are exposed to these sounds permanently.

6- Earwax

Earwax, although it is a healthy thing that preserves the ear, can build up in excess and block sounds from reaching the eardrum.

How do we preserve the sense of hearing?

To keep your hearing healthy, you must:

• Use ear protection devices if you are constantly exposed to loud sounds or doing activities and tasks that may damage your ear.
• Keep the volume level low enough when using earphones, as long as you are also listening to the sounds around you.
• Do not insert anything into your ear, such as cotton swabs or use any sharp object, as these may harm the health of the ear and the sense of hearing.
• Quit smoking because it may impair blood circulation to the ear and thus damage the sense of hearing.
• Exercising, especially exercises that help reduce the incidence of various health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, because these diseases cause hearing problems.
• Control any chronic disease you suffer from in order to avoid its complications and damage to your sense of hearing.