Fun Facts about Ears and Hearing

Did you know?

Throughout your lifetime, your outer ear never stops growing.

The smallest bone in the human body is located in the middle ear - the stapes (or stirrup) measures about 3mm x 2.5mm.

Your ears continue to hear sound, even when you are asleep, your brain simply learns to ignore specific incoming sounds.

Hearing is our fastest sense. You can recognize a sound in 50 milliseconds, while visual recognition takes your brain 250 milliseconds.

Your ears play an important role in your balance - the vestibular system that governs balance is located in your inner ear.

Not all animals have ears on their heads:

• Snakes use their tongues and jawbones to detect vibrations

• Cricket's hearing organs are on their knees

• Fish have ridges on their bodies that detect pressure changes, allowing them to "hear" approaching objects

And finally, a giraffe can clean its ears with its 53cm tongue.