What is bone conduction?

Bone conduction is a way of transmitting sound that passes through the skull bones, instead of going through the ear canal and the eardrum.

1. Sound produces vibrations.

2. These vibrations are transmitted to the skull bones.

3. They reach the cochlea (inner ear) directly.

4. The brain interprets these vibrations as sound.

👉 The eardrum is bypassed.

👂 How it differs from normal hearing

• Air conduction (classic):
  Sound → ear canal → eardrum → ossicles → cochlea

• Bone conduction:
  Sound → skull bones → cochlea

🎧 What is it used for?

• Bone conduction headsets (you hear everything while staying aware of outside noise)

• Hearing aids for certain types of hearing loss

• ENT medical tests

🧠 A simple example

When you plug your ears and speak, your voice sounds different to you.
That's because you're hearing it partly through bone conduction.