Having ears on your head, giving you the ability to maintain balance and the ability to hear the world around you truly is a gift. Unfortunately, some may take this gift for granted. Not fully realizing that what they have is something special. However, the truth is that many of us are in this boat, even if we don’t want to admit it. There’s so much to be caught up in during our daily lives that it’s challenging to take a step back and appreciate the little things, especially when it comes to aspects of our human body. It’s common to not fully appreciate what we have until a natural ability is diminished or is taken from us. Especially when we don’t have all of the facts or ear facts.

Maybe with more knowledge and understanding can we gain an appreciation for the gifts we have. To help spread awareness and information on how amazing the human body is, check out these interesting ear facts!

• Our amazing ears never sleep, even when we do. Human ears don’t cease to function when we are asleep. In fact, they still can pick up sound. It’s your brain that is allowing you to sleep since it is blocking out the sounds so you can get a good night’s rest.

• Did you know that the skin inside your ear continuously grows and renews itself through constant shedding? In fact, the skin of your ear canal grows an average of 1.3 inches per year! Don’t worry. The extra skin comes out naturally on its own.

• The human ear can come in many sizes and shapes. According to a study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, men’s ears are typically larger than women’s, with the average ear measuring about 2.5 inches long.

• Our ears do more than just permitting us the gift of hearing. Our ears also help facilitate balance. Within the ear, there are three main parts: the inner ear, middle ear, and the external ear. The vestibular complex in the inner ear and the Eustachian tube in the middle ear help give us a sense of equilibrium and balance.

• The human ear gets larger as a person ages according to a study done at Texas Tech University. In the observational study, it was revealed that the ear’s circumference increases an average of 0.51 millimeters per year while a person ages.

• Your ability to hear is dependent upon the tiny hairs that reside inside your ear. Inside the cochlea, there are thousands of these tiny hair cells that can change sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain. So essentially, if you lose the hairs in your ears, you will lose your ability to hear.