To to (somewhat) suppress background noise by suppressing omni directional soundĪnd enhancing sounds from the front of the wearer, and that works well. Some hearing aids use multiple microphones

Even the best hearing aid can only amplify sound it can'tĬonverse with your brain and help your brain eliminate background noise the It also explains why one of the biggest problems that hard of hearing people face is the effect of background noise. This explains why hearing aids (which amplify sounds) can help you hear better, but they do not completely correct a hearing loss. The cochlea can then use this information to suppress sound you are not interested in. It's interesting to note that while many of the nerve fibers in this bundle do carry the sound signal to the brain, most (some estimates are as much as 2 thirds) of the nerve fibers actually carry information BACK to the cochlea from the brain. Also passing through the same bony canals of your skull is the 7th cranial nerve, or the facial nerve, which supports facial expression and sensation. The neurotransmitter released by hair cells that stimulates the terminal neurites of peripheral axons of the afferent (towards the brain) neurons is thought to be glutamate. Together, they are called the 8th cranial nerve, or the Vestibulocochlear nerve. Neurons of the auditory or vestibulocochlear nerve (the eighth cranial nerve) innervate cochlear and vestibular hair cells. The auditory nerve and the vestibular nerve, which carries balance information from the semicircular canals to the brain, join together as they pass through the bony canals of your skull.

usually related to acoustic neuromas (tumors) on the nerve covering.

Usually, hearing loss that is called 'sensorineural' or 'nerve deafness' is actually caused by problems with the cochlea, instead of the actual auditory nerve, but a very small percentage of hearing loss is caused by problems with the nerve, itself. The auditory nerve is a bundle of nerve fibers that carries hearing information between the cochlea the brain.

Auditory nerve psychology definition