What Is cochlear damage? (Tinnitus)
There are millions of tiny hair cells in the cochlea (discussed in detail below) that are stimulated by the pressure of sound waves. This stimulation causes movement of the tiny hairs, which is similar to a wheat field moving in time to the wind blowing.
When sound is perceived by the ear and these auditory hairs move, electrical impulses are discharged through the auditory nerve which the brain translates as sound.
These tiny hair cells and the tiny auditory nerves are very easily damaged when exposed to sudden loud noises or you have been exposed to loud noises over an extended period of time. These sensitive organs can also be damaged as a result of a severe blow to the head.
The tiny hairs can get bent or even broken and then send electrical impulses randomly to the brain which are interpreted as sound, even though there might be a complete absence of sound.
