How hearing works

Hearing health is the foundation of communication, safety, and quality of life. It is determined by the function of your auditory system, which receives, transmits, and interprets sound.

Ear anatomy

The outer ear includes the pinna and ear canal. It collects sound and directs it toward the middle ear where vibration begins.

The middle ear contains eardrum, ossicles and the Eustachian tube. The ossicles（tiny bones in middle ear）amplify vibration toward the inner ear, while the Eustachian tube equalizes pressure.

The inner ear houses the cochlea and vestibular system. The cochlea converts vibration into neural signals, and the vestibular system supports balance.

Sound pathway

Hearing doesn’t follow just one path.

Our ears can pick up sound through the air or through the bones of the skull. Understanding these two pathways explains how hearing works—and why modern bone conduction technology is possible.

Bone conduction
vs.
Air conduction

Bone conduction

Bone conduction bypasses the ear canal and eardrum. Vibration travels through the skull bones and directly stimulates the cochlea, allowing hearing to remain effective even when the outer or middle ear is compromised.

Air conduction

Air conduction is the everyday pathway: sound travels through the ear canal, vibrates the eardrum and ossicles, and reaches the cochlea. Abnormal structures or pathologies in the outer and/or middle ear can reduce the efficiency of sound transmission to the inner ear.

Types of hearing loss

Hearing loss is generally classified into conductive, sensorineural, and mixed types, depending on which part of the auditory system is affected. Each type has distinct causes and clinical patterns.

Conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss occurs when sound cannot travel efficiently through the outer or middle ear, while bone conduction hearing remains normal.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is permanent inner‑ear damage—usually to cochlear hair cells—caused by aging, noise, ototoxic drugs, or genetics, and it elevates both air and bone conduction thresholds.