Adult Hearing Programs

How do we hear?

The ear is usually conceptualized in terms of three parts - the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. Sound vibrations enter the middle ear through the eardrum (tympanic membrane). The sound waves set the eardrum in motion, which in turn activates the three little bones located in the middle ear - malleus, incus and stapes (also known as the hammer, anvil and stirrup). The stirrup transmits the vibration into the fluid that fills the inner ear. The vibration then moves through the fluid within the snail shaped part of the inner ear called the cochlea. There the movement of the fluid stimulates the tiny hair cells that line the cochlea. This in turn stimulates nerve impulses. These nerve impulses are then carried to the brain and are interpreted as sound.

Hearing disorders

There are a variety of hearing disorders that affect adults. Based on the nature and severity of the disease, treatment can range from medication and follow-up to surgery. The Ear and Hearing Center is a referral base for a variety of ear disorders that affect the adult patient.