What we identify as our ears is actually the outer ear and is a flap of cartilage covered by skin. The purpose of this is to help funnel sound into the middle ear and ensure our delicate inner ears are protected from debris and other potential dangers.
The eardrum itself is a tiny membrane that moves backwards and forwards in response to sound waves. This, in turn, causes the tiny bones inside the middle ear to vibrate that is converted into nerve impulses by the cochlea where they travel to the brain and then turn into messages that we call “hearing”. When you think about it, it’s utterly fascinating how sound can be relayed from one organ to the next by vibrations only to result in a nerve impulse that is then translated into sound that either has meaning or simply evokes a response of pleasure or non-pleasure.
The ears are also responsible for transmitting
information about balance, coordination and head position. If you have ever suffered from motion
sickness, this is a result of your brain receiving conflicting information from
your eyes and your ears. The constant
motion results in the fluid in your ears moving in contrary motion to what your
eyes are saying.
To protect your hearing and improve your sense
of balance try to avoid loud noises, setting volume on devices to lower
settings. If working in industrial
areas, wear hearing protection and if in doubt please get your hearing checked
by a professional.
To improve your balance and co-ordination try standing (close to a chair or a
desk) on one leg and when you have your balance, try to close your eyes. You’ll notice that your body starts to sway
as it tries to maintain its balance.
Keep going and don’t forget to switch legs!
