Amazing Cochlea-Hearing... 'not so trivia'!

OK, yeah...I can't sleep so was researching if one can get tinnitus while asleep or unconscious (The "Rhea Thunderstorm Effect") and I found this. Thought it was worth sharing...

http://www.reddoorhearing.com/tag/hearing-loss/

LITTLE COCHLEA VS. THE BIG BAD WORLD ~ March 27th, 2012 by QCURRIE

Many people don’t realize how small the inner ear really is. When you think about what it has to do the fact that it’s only 9mm across is pretty amazing! The inner ear, also known as the cochlea, is a miraculous organ.

Here are just a few amazing ear facts:

- The ear senses pressure changes as small as 1 billionth of 1 atmosphere

- The ear accurately senses between 20 and 20,000 vibrations per second

- The ear detects loudness changes from 0 decibels to 130 decibels

- Hearing is active well before birth and stays active while we’re asleep or unconscious

- Unlike a microphone, the ear actively tunes sound and has cells which contract and expand in rhythm to sound

Unfortunately, there are a few more facts that aren’t so amazing:

- The cochlea does not heal so damage done when you’re 18 can affect you when you’re 80

- The cochlea does not feel pain when it’s being damaged by loud noise

- The cochlea can be damaged by immune reactions, disease, drugs, blasts, chemicals, toxins, loud sounds, physical impact and aging

- The cochlea requires a richer supply of oxygen and nutrients than other tissues and so it is particularly sensitive to changes in cardiovascular health

- Cochlear damage cannot be fixed by transplant or surgery (although in the case of severe deafness, cochlear implants can help)

- Hearing loss not only affects your ability to hear soft sounds it can make loud sounds too loud, disrupts your ability to hear in noise, throws off your enjoyment of music, reduces your distance hearing and disconnects you from people and from your general environment.

It’s amazing how one little cochlea, barely the size of a pea, can do so much but can also be so vulnerable. That’s why protecting your hearing, even if you already have hearing loss, is so important. Avoid loud noise or wear hearing protection if you can’t avoid it. Get your hearing checked regularly, especially if you experience a change. If you have hearing loss, make sure you’ve seen an ear-nose-and-throat specialist at least once. Let your doctor know if any medications seem to affect your hearing. If you wear hearing instruments, using them as much as possible will help your brain stay in tip top shape and minimize or eliminate the isolation that hearing loss can cause. Give your hard working cochleas all the help they deserve!

Best, Zimichael

 

Great post..very interesting and informative x thanks