Ear Facts for Kids

A Picture of the Human Right Ear
  • Organ Name: Ear
  • Organ System: Auditory system (sensory nervous system)
  • Organ Purpose: Hearing and balance (equilibrioception)
  • Organ Count: 2, left ear and right ear
  • Organ FMA ID: 52780
  • Organ TA ID: A01.1.00.005 and A15.3.00.001

27 Ear Facts for Kids

  1. The human ear is an organ that allows you to hear and keep your balance.
  2. The ear has two main functions, and they are hearing and balance.
  3. The ear transmits sound waves to the brain, allowing you to hear sounds.
  4. The ear allows you to hear by converting sound waves into nerve impulses that are sent to and interrupted by the brain.
  5. The ear allows you to feel the effects of gravity and acceleration, helping you keep your balance.
  6. There are three parts of the human ear, and they are the outer ear, middle ear and inner ear.
  7. The outer ear is the external visible part on the exterior of the human body.
  8. The middle ear is between both the outer ear and the inner ear.
  9. The inner ear is found in the bony labyrinth, which is a complex cavity in the temporal bone.
  10. Earwax (cerumen) is a waxy substance that the ear secretes for protection, cleaning and lubrication.
  11. The smallest bone in the human body is found in the ear, and it’s the stapes.
  12. Sounds that are higher than 85 dB (decibels) can damage your hearing.
  13. Hearing loss is defined as having partial to a complete inability to hear.
  14. Hearing loss is rated by degrees and there are seven degrees of hearing loss.
  15. The seven degrees of hearing loss are normal, slight, mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe and profound.
  16. A person with normal hearing loss can’t hear sounds less than -10 and 15 dB HL.
  17. A person with slight hearing loss can’t hear sounds less than 16 and 25 dB HL.
  18. A person with mild hearing loss can’t hear sounds less than 26 and 40 dB HL.
  19. A person with moderate hearing loss can’t hear sounds less than 41 and 55 dB HL.
  20. A person with moderately severe hearing loss can’t hear less than 56 and 70 dB HL.
  21. A person with severe hearing loss can’t hear sounds less than 71 and 90 dB HL.
  22. A person with profound hearing loss can’t hear sounds greater less than 91+ dB HL.
  23. Sign language is a process where one uses hand signs and motions to communicate with someone who can’t hear.
  24. A hearing aid is a small electronic device that can help improve the hearing of someone with hearing loss.
  25. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss.
  26. The Foundational Model of Anatomy ID for the ears is 52780.
  27. The Terminologia Anatomica IDs for the ears are A01.1.00.005 and A15.3.00.001.

Additional Resources on the Human Ears

  • How the Ears Work – Basic information on the human ears work on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.
  • Ear Disorders – Learn about the different disorders that can affect the human ears on the MedlinePlus website.
  • Human Ear – Britannica – Find more detailed information and facts about the ears on the Britannica website.
  • Ear – Wikipedia – Find more ear facts and information on the Wikipedia website.

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