To understand how we hear and how some common problems occur， it helps to understand ear anatomy. Your ear canal is connected to the tympanic membrane or ear drum which senses sound waves entering your ear. Inside the ear canal， wax is created to remove dust particles from the air before they reach the tympanic membrane. But wax build-up can also prevent sound waves from reaching it.

为了理解我们是如何听到声音的以及一引起常见疾病是如何发生的，了解耳朵的解剖会有帮助。耳道连接到鼓膜，鼓膜能感受到进入你耳朵的声音。在耳道内部有耳垢，耳垢可以阻止空气中的微尘到达耳膜。但是耳垢堆积也可以阻止声波到达耳膜。

Using a Q-tip can push the wax in deeper and worsen the problem.When sound waves do reach the tympanic membrane， it vibrates， which causes small bones in the middle of your ear called the ossicles to shake. They may be blocked from moving if infection in your middle ear causes a build-up fluid and bulging of the tympanic membrane.

用棉签（掏耳朵）会将耳垢推得更深，使问题更严重。当声波到达鼓膜后，鼓膜振动，导致中耳中叫做听小骨的小骨头晃动。如果你的中耳有积液并且积液使鼓膜鼓起，这同样也会阻碍听小骨晃动。

The motion of the inner ear bones produces pressure waves which set in motion tiny hair fibers in the inner ear or cochlea. The inner ear hairs convert their motion into electrical signals， which are carried to the part of the brain that perceives sound.Listening to loud music can shear the hair cells so that they tear and shrivel. This is a primary cause of hearing loss especially when there is too much noise in the environment.

内耳中骨的震动产生压力波，使内耳或叫做耳蜗中的微纤毛振动。这些纤毛将它们的振动转化为电信号，传送到大脑中觉察声音的部位。听高分贝的音乐可以使纤毛折断，造成纤毛撕裂和萎缩。这是听力丧失的主要原因，尤其是当环境中太多的噪音时。