This was a saying I learned from such a young age that I can’t remember who said it to me. However, the point of this phrase is that it’s impossible to put your elbow in your ear, therefore you shouldn’t insert anything foreign in your ear canal. The main reason for this warning, aside from losing a piece a Lego or similar, is that it risks damaging your ear drum.
It’s a common assumption that your ear drums are the most likely cause for hearing loss and deafness. In fact, hearing loss and deafness is more likely to be caused by lots of other issues and more gradually than sudden ear drum damage.
So what are your ear drums for and how do ear drums work?
Ear Drum Anatomy
The ear drum is also called the tympanic membrane. It is a thin, circular layer of tissue situated at the end of the ear canal. It separates the outer ear from the middle ear and serves as the first point of contact for sound waves that enter our ears. This paper-thin membrane has a diameter of approximately 8-10 millimetres.
Function of the Ear Drum
The ear drum acts as a bridge between external sound and the auditory apparatus within our ears. When sound waves travel through the air, they enter the ear canal and cause the ear drum to vibrate. These vibrations begin a complex process that eventually leads to the perception of sound. Here’s a breakdown of how the ear drum works, including the rest of the process:
How do Ear Drums Work?
1. Sound Transmission: When sound waves reach the ear drum, they cause it to vibrate. The varying pressure of these sound waves creates corresponding vibrations in the membrane.
2. Amplification: The vibrations of the ear drum are transferred to the three tiny bones in the middle ear known as the ossicles. These are the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), and stapes (stirrup). These bones form a chain that amplifies the vibrations, effectively transforming the relatively weak vibrations of the ear drum into stronger vibrations.
3. Transmission to Inner Ear: The stapes bone connects to the oval window, a membrane-covered opening that leads to the inner ear. As the stapes moves, it creates pressure waves within the fluid-filled cochlea of the inner ear.
4. Hair Cell Stimulation: The cochlea contains thousands of tiny hair cells that line the spiral-shaped structure. These hair cells are responsible for converting the mechanical vibrations into electrical signals that the brain can understand.
5. Signal Transmission to the Brain: The electrical signals generated by the hair cells are transmitted through the auditory nerve to the brainstem and then to various areas of the brain responsible for processing sound. It’s in these regions that the electrical signals are translated into the sounds we perceive.
Our ability to hear relies on all of these incredible processes and instruments working correctly, starting with the ear drum. Therefore it’s vital to protect your ear drums by keeping foreign objects away (such as cleaning with ear buds) and reducing exposure to loud noise. Other things which can damage or temporarily impact your ear drums may be infections or built up ear wax. It’s always best to visit a GP or audiologist to look at these issues and don’t be tempted to poke around inside your ear and risk damage.
Ear Drums can Repair Themselves
To have an ear drum burst sounds quite shocking, however this term refers to any sort of perforation. Ear drums do have the ability to naturally repair given time and proper care but anything larger than a minor hole or perforation will likely require medical intervention to help proper healing. If you suspect any sort of ear drum damage, or you feel ear drum pain or you feel your ear drum aching then you should seek professional advice as soon as possible.
So, who lifted their arm to see if your elbow could reach your ear?
The Deaf Club community is a great place to share your experience and join others who are also deaf or have hearing loss. We share a lot of lived experience as well as our goals and aspirations, personally and professionally. You can join us here: Deaf.Club.
