Hearing Info

Trusted Hearing Assistance in Bentonville, Arkansas

Trusted Hearing Assistance in Bentonville, Arkansas

How Does the Process of Hearing Work?

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The act of hearing begins when sound waves reach the outer ear and are channeled down into the auditory canal, also called the ear canal. This tube-like passageway is lined with tiny hairs and small glands that produce ear wax.
The middle ear lies at the end of the auditory canal. It is composed of the eardrum and three small bones, known by the layman as the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup. When sound waves hit the eardrum, it vibrates and, in turn, moves the hammer. The hammer moves the anvil, which moves the stirrup, transmitting the vibrations into the inner ear. The middle ear functions to amplify sound, which is why significant hearing loss can result from any disruption in any of the parts.

The inner ear consists of the cochlea and the nerve of hearing. It converts sound waves into nerve impulses that travel to the brain via the movement of tiny hair cells. The brain, in turn, allows us to hear…as long as the message it is receiving is not distorted due to problems in the process just described.


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Your Individual Hearing Experience and Hearing Evaluation Process

At the time of the hearing evaluation a case history will be taken to determine the type of hearing problem that the individual perceives and how his/her family perceives the hearing problem. Questions will also be asked about the onset of the hearing loss, presence of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and dizziness. 


Based on the results of the hearing test and the answers to these questions Our highly trained staff may make a referral to a medical doctor for an examination and possible treatment. If the testing reveals a sensori-neural hearing loss, a hearing aid may be recommended for one or both ears.

Want to learn more?

Click here to learn about types and causes of hearing loss.

Click here to learn what happens during a hearing test.

Click here to learn about digital hearing instruments.

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