From sound waves
to meaningful sound.
Hearing begins when sound waves enter the ear. The ear collects and transfers this sound, the inner ear converts it into electrical activity, and the auditory nerve carries information to the brain where it can be recognised and understood.
How Hearing Works
The Ear and Brain Work Together
Hearing is not the work of the ear alone. The outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, auditory nerve and brain form a connected pathway. Each stage changes or carries sound information until the brain can interpret it as speech, music and the sounds around us.
Outer Ear
The visible ear collects sound waves and directs them through the ear canal towards the eardrum.
Middle Ear
The eardrum vibrates and the three tiny middle-ear bones transfer those vibrations towards the inner ear.
Inner Ear & Brain
The cochlea helps convert vibration into electrical activity, which travels along the auditory nerve to the brain.
The Hearing Pathway
Hearing happens through a connected sequence.
A voice, doorbell or piece of music begins as vibration travelling through the air. For us to hear it, that acoustic energy must pass through several structures, be converted into neural information and finally be processed by the brain.
Each part of the system
has a different role
How Sound Becomes Meaning
A sound must travel, transform and be interpreted.
Sound Enters the Ear
The outer ear gathers sound waves and directs them through the ear canal until they reach the eardrum.
Vibration Is Transferred
The eardrum and the three middle-ear bones move in response to sound and transfer vibration towards the fluid-filled cochlea.
Signals Are Created
Movement inside the cochlea stimulates specialised sensory hair cells, helping convert mechanical vibration into electrical signals.
The Brain Interprets
The auditory nerve carries information towards the brain, where sound patterns are processed and interpreted as meaningful listening.
Sound
→
Outer Ear
→
Middle Ear
→
Inner Ear
→
Brain
The Hearing System Explained
Outer Ear
The pinna and ear canal collect sound and guide it towards the eardrum.
Middle Ear
The eardrum and three small bones, the malleus, incus and stapes, transfer sound vibration towards the inner ear.
Inner Ear
The cochlea contains specialised sensory structures that respond to movement and help convert vibration into electrical nerve activity.
Auditory Nerve & Brain
The auditory nerve carries signals from the inner ear towards the brain. The brain processes this information so sounds can be recognised, located and understood.
Concerned about your child’s hearing?
If something about your child’s listening, speech or response to sound concerns you, an age-appropriate hearing assessment can help provide clarity.