Age- and noise-related hearing loss are common and can affect quality of life. But many treatments are available. In mammals, sound travels through three main parts of the ear to be heard. These are the outer, middle and inner ear. [1] Outer Ear - This is the part of the ear that we can see called the pinna as well as the inside of the ear called the ear canal. Hearing — or auditory processing — refers to the awareness of sounds and placing meaning to those sounds. It involves a complex series of steps in which several parts of your ear and auditory nervous system work together harmoniously. Hearing range describes the frequency range that can be heard by humans or other animals, though it can also refer to the range of levels. Hard of hearing refers to people with hearing loss ranging from mild to severe. People who are hard of hearing usually communicate through spoken language and can benefit from hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other assistive devices as well as captioning. Hearing loss can affect everyone from babies to people in their 60s and 70s. Many things may cause hearing loss, but exposure to loud noise is the most common reason people have the condition. The meaning of HEARING is the process, function, or power of perceiving sound; specifically : the special sense by which noises and tones are received as stimuli. There are three main components of the human auditory system: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The outer ear includes the pinna, the visible part of the ear, as well as the ear canal, which terminates at the eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane. The pinna serves to focus sound waves through the ear canal toward the eardrum. HEARING definition: 1. an official meeting that is held to collect the facts about an event or problem: 2. an occasion…. Learn more. Hearing loss affects education, employment, relationships, and mental health. Children with untreated hearing loss may struggle in school, while adults may face reduced job opportunities.