You
know exactly what your voice is supposed to sound like. You hear it every time
you speak. But every time you hear a recording of it, it sounds like someone
else. Your friends and family, though, assure you that you definitely sound
like that. So, why does your voice sound different to you than everyone else?
HOW DO WE HEAR?
First, the outer ear catches sound waves, sending them down the ear canal to the middle ear. The sound waves pass through the eardrum, turning into vibrations, which are then transmitted to the inner ear. The vibrations cause the fluid in the cochlea to move, which stimulates tiny hairs that create nerve signals. The nerve signals are sent to the brain, which translates them into sounds we understand.
WHY DOES MY VOICE SOUND TWO DIFFERENT WAYS?
When you hear your own voice, you’re not just hearing it the way you hear every other sound. Your vocal cords also transmit sounds directly to the cochlea, but your head enhances deeper, low-frequency vibrations. Thus, when you hear your own voice, you’re hearing a combination of these two sound transmissions, CEENTA Audiologist Eric Tyler, AuD, said.
However, when you hear your voice in a recording, you’re only hearing it with your ears, not your ears and the transmission from your vocal cords to the cochlea. Thus, you’re hearing it the way everyone else does.
If it doesn’t sound like you’re hearing your voice, or anything, correctly, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at CEENTA. We want to help you hear yourself and others as clearly as possible.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. Dr. Tyler practices in our SouthPark office. Do you need a hearing exam? Call 704-295-3000. You can also request an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.
