Hearing happens when sound waves enter the outer ear and bump the eardrum. The eardrum moves tiny bones in the middle ear. They send the vibrations into a snail-shaped tube (cochlea). Nerves then tell the brain what the sound means to you.
Short, child-friendly explanation of how hearing works: sound enters the outer ear, moves the eardrum and tiny bones, travels into the cochlea, and nerves tell the brain — perfect for a 5-year-old.
Hearing happens when sound waves enter the outer ear and bump the eardrum. The eardrum moves tiny bones in the middle ear. They send the vibrations into a snail-shaped tube (cochlea). Nerves then tell the brain what the sound means to you.