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How the ear works with the brain

Hearing rehabilitation supports your brain in processing sounds

Your ears are home to the smallest bones and muscle in your body – but the brain’s ability to process sound is equally as amazing.

Consider how you can “focus” your listening on a specific sound. Or you can make out someone beside you speaking even in a noisy room. Or you can selectively block out some noises.

Ears are incredible and complex receivers of sound, but the brain performs the difficult role of processing all the noise into speech, music and more. 

If you or a loved one experiences hearing difficulties, understanding how ears work with the brain can explain some impacts of hearing loss – including exhaustion and fatigue.

For audiologists, this complex connection between the brain and ears offers an opportunity to improve the results of hearing treatments (including hearing aids) by supporting the brain in processing sounds. This process is rehabilitation, and it is just as important to successful results as hearing loss treatments.


From sound to signals
Your ears are similar to the microphone on your computer or phone – they receive sound and direct it in to be processed. The brain is responsible for interpreting, filtering and managing the input it receives so you can understand and enjoy various sounds. 

When sound travels through the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear, hundreds of tiny hairs convert physical vibrations into electrical signals. These signals are passed through the auditory nerve to be processed and interpreted by the brain.

It’s a complex process that relies on tiny parts in the ear, but this process can be simplified: your ears convert sound into signals for your brain to process. And the clearer the signals, the easier it is for your brain to process.

When signals are weak
A document that is typed on a computer tends to be easier to read and understand than a document written quickly by hand. It is even more difficult if the hand-written note is missing half the letters.

Hearing loss can inhibit sound input, requiring your brain to work harder to interpret and understand the signals it receives. This can have impacts beyond limiting your ability to hear. 

Higher cognitive load
Brains are incredibly resilient and adaptive. They will do their best to provide you the output you expect, so they will compensate for a weaker signal. Brains can “fill in the gaps” if a sound was interrupted or not picked up by the ears. 

Persistent hearing loss forces the brain to compensate. Although our brains can do an amazing job even when sound signals are weak or disjointed, this process demands more effort. Hearing loss makes the brain “think harder.” 

Higher risk of dementia
There are a variety of factors that contribute to dementia. Hearing loss is another contributing factor of dementia because the brain is required to work harder when compensating for weaker signals. 

Fatigue and exhaustion
The brain is a muscle, and it is physically tiring when it is working hard. Many individuals with hearing loss tell us that they are more tired after trying to understand what others are saying. It can be exhausting to focus on listening.

Social withdrawal
Communication is the core of our relationships. Exhaustion, fatigue and other impacts are often attributed to social situations, so some individuals prefer isolation over interaction. 

Rehabilitation improves treatment success
Remember how brains are resilient and attempt to adapt when signals are weak or incomplete? Although this can contribute to a higher risk of dementia if hearing loss goes untreated, it shows the prospect of rehabilitation.

The brain can adapt to better manage and process the signals it receives. For many individuals with hearing loss, hearing aids can improve the quality and clarity of sound so the brain has an easier time interpreting the signals. 

Improve success of hearing aids
Your hearing relies on receiving and processing sound. Hearing aids increase amplification and can improve the quality of sounds to align with the signals your brain expects. 

An audiologist will assist your brain in this process by strategically adjusting the output of your hearing aids. When hearing aids are matched with rehabilitation, there is a higher chance of significant improvements in your hearing.

Your brain requires time to adjust to abrupt changes in your hearing (such as when you’re fitted with new hearing aids), so an audiologist will provide some compensation strategies to assist you adapting to the new amplification.

Potential for ongoing progress
The brain is a muscle, so rehabilitation can contribute to ongoing progress to improve its ability to manage sound. Your brain is always finding innovative ways to better manage the signals it is receiving, and rehabilitation trains the brain to be better with sound.

What to expect from rehabilitation
Your hearing depends on the ability of your ears to receive sound, transform sound into signals and your brain to process those signals. When there is a problem, your brain responds by compensating and working harder to help you hear what you are listening to. This is exhausting for your brain and body.

Rehabilitation supports your brain in processing sounds, no matter if you use hearing aids or not. The goal is to assist your brain in recognizing, separating, orienting and focusing on sounds. Some rehabilitation strategies that your audiologist may recommend include:

- If you have hearing aids, routinely adjusting the sound output to match your unique hearing profile and sound preferences
- Compensating for unwanted sounds
- Ensuring both ears are cooperating and working together
- Advice for managing noisy environments or challenging situations
- Learn how to set up your home to optimize your hearing
- How your family and friends can support your hearing

Your audiologist will recommend a personalized plan based on the state of your hearing, treatments and goals. Learn more about what to expect during a visit with an audiologist.

If you already have hearing aids: Schedule a chat with us to discuss how rehabilitation will assist your brain to fill the gaps.

If you experience hearing loss: Rehabilitation may be one option or aspect of a solution for your hearing loss. Book a hearing test to understand your hearing loss and discuss the next steps. 

How often should I get my hearing tested?

18 Apr, 2023
It’s routine for people to schedule medical checkups, like an annual physical, vision test or dental exam. But regular hearing tests are much less commonplace. Despite the integral role hearing plays in our daily lives, we just don’t tend to pay it as much mind. Your hearing is far from static, which is why we urge everyone—both young and old, known hearing loss or not—to get a hearing test and ensure you’re properly caring for all your senses. What happens during a hearing test? Hearing evaluations may be in-depth, but they are nothing to be nervous about. We won’t be poking and prodding you. Professional Audiology goes beyond the basic tests to better ensure our clients receive the thorough care they deserve. Here’s an in-depth overview of what happens during a hearing test. Hearing Screening A quick pass/fail test of your ability to hear different tones in each ear. It will indicate if you have hearing loss but will not go into any detail about the type or levels of degradation. If you fail a hearing screening, you should definitely get a full hearing test. Hearing Test Sometimes referred to as a hearing evaluation, these tests go in-depth into analyzing and diagnosing your hearing ability, your understanding of speech and assessing your outer, middle and inner ears. Components of a full hearing evaluation Your hearing is a two-part process, involving the physical action of hearing as well as the processing of the sound information once received by your brain. It’s crucially important to test based on both these factors to ensure you receive the proper care. There are a number of different tests that will be performed during your hearing evaluation. These include: Air conduction Otoscopy Bone conduction Tympanometry Word recognition Loudness discomfort levels None of these tests are invasive, and when combined, they offer our clients the fullest possible picture of their current hearing, and help highlight the best path to better hearing health. When should I get my hearing tested? There are many good reasons to receive a hearing test, and far fewer reasons not to. If you or someone you know has hearing loss, regular hearing tests are crucial to tell whether your loss is changing or degrading. If you’ve been receiving treatment for hearing loss, hearing tests will be able to gauge if that treatment has been successful in providing help and hopefully stemming the tide of further damage. If you work in a loud environment or frequent loud spaces like concerts, then regular hearing tests can be very helpful in guarding against further damage. Occupational hearing loss is unfortunately very common. If you ever notice a pervasive ringing in your ears, it is definitely in your best interest to receive a hearing test. Tinnitus is often associated with hearing loss, and while it can’t be treated the same way, a hearing test can certainly help you better understand your condition. If you’ve never received a hearing test before, it can be very helpful for future visits to have a baseline to compare to, so in the future it will be easier to determine if any loss has occurred. If for any reason, you or a loved one is questioning whether they may be suffering from hearing loss, then a comprehensive hearing evaluation can either quell those concerns or help lead you to the next step in determining how to tackle and prevent any further hearing loss. 

How hearing loops help when you’re out and about

18 Apr, 2023
There are plenty of situations in your day-to-day life that require a level of active listening. For anyone with hearing challenges, this can create a barrier that makes going about your regular business quite difficult. One solution for dealing with this is hearing loops, a very helpful technology that can make a huge difference for folks who are hard of hearing. What are hearing loops? A hearing loop is a unique sound system that is used to transmit sound directly to a user’s hearing aid or cochlear implant. Made up of a physical loop of cable that is placed around a designated area, a hearing loop transmits sound by generating a magnetic field in the area which delivers a signal to properly equipped hearing aids. When hooked up to a microphone, a hearing loop carries a speaker's voice wirelessly to listeners hearing aids and is best implemented in environments like church halls, theatre rooms and public spaces like banks, information centers and similar public-oriented service providers. How do hearing loops work with hearing aids? For a hearing aid to pick up the transmitted sound from a hearing loop, it has to be equipped with a called a telecoil. Also referred to as a T-coil, this technology is made up of a small coil of wire wrapped around a rod that acts as an antenna to pick up the sound being delivered by a hearing loop. All cochlear implants have telecoils equipped, and nearly 80% of hearing aids either have a telecoil included or are capable of using one. It’s important to ask that a telecoil be included with your new hearing aids, as it is such a helpful tool to be used when you’re out and about. How do I use a hearing loop? This is arguably the best part of hearing loop systems, as cochlear implants and T-coil-equipped hearing aids automatically pick up the signal, meaning you don’t have to do anything to enjoy the benefits of crystal-clear communication. Say you walk into a bank with a hearing loop system. Rather than having to struggle to hear what the teller is saying behind their glass partition, you’ll be able to hear their voice clearly and succinctly without so much as pushing a button. Even better is going to a packed local play and not having to strain to hear the actors, as their voices are being transmitted directly into your ears. Hearing loops provide a level of access that hearing aids alone can’t even offer. More and more locations around the world are adding hearing loops to their services, providing those who are hard of hearing the chance to go about their days with an increased level of normality. Where can I find hearing loops in Edmonton? There are multiple locations around Edmonton that provide the added hearing assistance of a hearing loop. The popular Citadel Theatre in downtown Edmonton has hearing loops installed in two of its performance areas, allowing everyone to enjoy their shows the way they were meant to be. Most of the HSBC banks in the city are equipped with hearing loops, and all of Edmonton’s public libraries offer hearing loops at their front counters. You can go to Hearing Loops Canada For a more detailed list of hearing loop locations as well as plenty of other useful hearing loop resources. If you’re interested in the benefits of hearing loops, your first step should be to book a hearing test . Professional Audiology can help you find the right devices that will not only take advantage of the benefits of hearing loops but also greatly help improve your ability to hear. Take that first step and see how hearing aids can help you take back control of your hearing health.

Tips for hearing better when dining out

18 Apr, 2023
There’s no question that dining out can be a stressful experience for anyone suffering from hearing loss. With diners chatting away, cutlery clanging and music playing at an uncomfortably loud level, even folks with healthy hearing may have a hard time communicating with their table mates. These debilitating decibels can make it an easy choice to stay in and miss out on socializing, which can quickly take a toll on your overall mental well-being. Here are some straightforward tips and tricks that can help those who are hard of hearing have an enjoyable experience when heading out for a bite. Take the Time to Plan Ahead If you are the one planning the restaurant outing, then all the power is in your hands. Make sure to use it! When these tips are combined, they’re sure to increase the enjoyment level of your culinary excursion. Research quiet restaurants People love to make lists and categorize essentially everything online. If you live in an urban area, there’s a very good chance that someone has taken the time to discern which restaurants won’t blow out your eardrums. Choose your seating carefully If you’re planning early, you should be able to pick your seat. Sitting right in the middle of a crowded dining area, with noisy neighbours in all directions, is sure to cause you some distress. Specifically, ask for a high-backed booth or a corner seat where you’ll have a wall to your back. This is sure to cut out a lot of the clamour. Timing is everything As you are the master and commander of your outing, you have a lot more sway in picking the time for everyone to gather and chow down. While brunch is certainly trendy, it won’t be hearing-friendly. Neither will the middle of the dinner rush be. Pick a time after the lunch rush, before the dinner rush, or even have a slightly later dinner. That way, after you’ve devoured your food, the restaurant will be nice and quiet, allowing you and your guests plenty of time to comfortably sip your wine and chat the night away. When Not in Charge of Planning, Advocate for Yourself This can admittedly be quite a tricky one. Nobody wants to inconvenience their friends or loved ones with a perceived huge ask for accommodation. It’s uncomfortable, and odds are your brain will tell you you’re asking too much and being a real pain. We’re here to tell you, you’re not asking too much. Your hearing issue is a real physical and measurable issue. Your mates will more than likely be happy to help you have an enjoyable dining experience. If not, then we’re sorry your friends suck. Bottom line: as hard as it can be, advocating for yourself is more than acceptable. Take Advantage of Tech to Improve Your Dining Experience Thank goodness for the ever-evolving world of technology, as there are products, devices and apps out there that can help you get the most out of your social forays. One such option is the ability to live transcribe the conversations at your table using your smartphone. There are multiple free apps, including a Google Android app that allow you to actively read what is being said by those dining with you. While the technology isn’t perfect, and you may get some comedically hilarious translation hiccups, context will probably help you through those bugs. Hearing aids are life changers for those who are hard of hearing Of course, the tried-and-true method to help you hear your surroundings with clarity and accuracy is hearing aids. Gone are the bulky and awkward hearing aids that stick out like a sore thumb. In are the sleek and discreet hearing aids with advanced technology like directional microphones that will help you focus the conversation. Hearing aids really can make a hugely beneficial impact on your life. You don’t have to continue suffering on your own, struggling from one conversation to another. While not a 100% cure to all your hearing issues, they are by far the best and most effective option to get you back out socializing and enjoying your life the way you used to. You can start your road to hearing recovery by booking a hearing test with Professional Audiology. Our trained and knowledgeable audiologists will help you find the hearing aid solution that works best for your specific needs. Take that first step and see how hearing aids can help you take back control of your hearing health.
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