When sound reaches the ear it is processed and a signal is sent to the brain.
Two subsystems
working together continuously and simultaneously
Sound processing by the brain involves a constant interaction between the orient and focus subsystems. It is a continuous process that makes sure our present focus is always prioritized.
While maintaining focus, the brain actually distracts itself on purpose by checking in on the rest of the environment four times every second. This allows our focus hearing to switch attention if something important appears in the sound scene.
When the two subsystems work well together, the rest of the brain can work optimally, which makes it easier to recognize, store and recall sounds, and respond to what is happening.
A limited sound scene can turn a hearing problem into a brain problem
Downgrading input to the brain and failing to treat the hearing loss in the correct way can have a variety of consequences. Some of these include increased listening effort and mental load, reorganized brain function, and an acceleration of cognitive decline and brain volume shrinkage.