At the end of the ear canal, the sound waves hit the ear drum. The ear drum is a thin membrane between the outer ear and middle ear.
The ear drum is directly connected to the hammer bone. The hammer bone, along with the anvil and stapes, are the smallest bones in the human body. They transmit the mechanical vibrations of the ear drum into the inner ear. The stapes transmits the vibrations via the oval window to the inner ear. In this way, the sound waves arrive in the cochlea, which is filled with fluid.
The sound moves along in the form of a traveling wave through the fluid-filled cochlea, through the hair cells as it goes through the canal. The hair cells change the mechanical vibrations into electrical nerve impulses, which are then passed to the brain. This is the point where we hear.
VAC, WCB, WSIB, ADP & ODSP accepted. Part of the WorkSafeBC Provider Network . * Based on national physician referrals over the tenure of the corporation's Canadian business operations compared to the disclosed referral count of leading competitors. **Hearing evaluations/tests are free for all customers over the age of 50. Some conditions and exclusions may apply. See clinic for details.