How ear works

The ear is made up of the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. Sound enters the outer ear and passes down the ear canal to the eardrum (a thin layer of tissue that separates the outer ear from the middle ear). Sound makes the eardrum vibrate as it travels into the middle ear. The middle ear is an air-filled cavity between the eardrum and the inner ear. It contains three tiny bones that pick up and carry the sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

The inner ear contains the cochlea (a fluid-filled chamber that is responsible for hearing) and the vestibular system (the balance organ). Vibrations travel in the fluid of the inner ear and stimulate tiny nerve endings in the cochlea, which turn the vibrations into electrical signals that are fed along the auditory nerve to the brain. Any problem with this process can result in hearing impairment which may require a hearing test to diagnose the extent and type of deafness.