Why do your ears ring after you hear a loud noise?

 

Have you ever been around something loud – like a carnival ride or some live music – and noticed when the loud noise was gone, that your ears seemed like they were “ringing”? This ringing noise has to do with how your ears work. 

Although we see an outside structure of our ears (the outer ear) when we look into a mirror, there’s actually a big system deep inside our heads that’s an important part of our ears, too (the middle and inner ear). Sounds that we hear are collected by the outer ear and then sent to the middle ear (where they make your eardrum and some small bones vibrate) and then to your inner ear. The inner ear contains tiny hairs (called hair cells) that have nerves attached to them. When the tiny hairs detect the vibrations, their attached nerves act like little messengers that send a memo to your brain about what you’re hearing!

The ringing sound that happens from exposure to loud noise is the result of damage to your delicate hair cells caused by the loudness. If you’ve only been exposed to the loud sounds for a short period of time, the ringing usually goes away after a short while, when the hair cells have been able to repair themselves. However, if your hair cells are damaged frequently, they might eventually stop being able to repair themselves, and then your ears will ring a lot! That’s why it’s important not to listen to music too loudly, or to wear earplugs when you think you’re going to be in a noisy place!

Did you know that what your brain interprets as sounds actually travel through the air as invisible vibrating waves? It’s true! If you put your hand on your throat and hum, you can feel it!! 

Just like it’s important to protect your ears from loud noises, there are other parts of your body it’s important to protect too! What are some things you’ve learned about that can protect your body from harm?

One example might be wearing a hat and sunscreen when you’re outside, to protect your skin from getting sunburn by too much exposure to the hot rays of the sun. Another example is brushing your teeth, which protects them from bacteria that can cause painful cavities!

What are some other healthy, protective things you’ve learned about which keep you strong and in good shape??