12/09/2025
Ged Answers: How Does the Ear Work?
It’s a question we get asked all the time — and today, Ged is here to explain it simply.
Sound waves travel through your ear canal and make your eardrum (tympanic membrane) vibrate, just like the skin of a drum. Those vibrations pass through three tiny bones in your middle ear — the hammer (malleus), anvil (incus), and stirrup (stapes).
The stapes then passes the vibrations into the cochlea — the part of the inner ear that processes sound. The cochlea is connected to the semicircular canals, which control balance. That’s why your hearing and balance are closely linked.
Inside the cochlea, the vibrations are converted into electrical signals which travel up the auditory nerve to your brain. And it’s actually your brain that makes sense of the sound!
That’s why hearing isn’t just about your ears — it’s about keeping your brain stimulated and healthy too.
For anyone over 55, we recommend a hearing check every two years. Your hearing is a vital sense — don’t leave it unchecked.