Why Hearing is Important

Hearing as a Connection to the World

Hearing is a critical sense that not only enables communication but also deeply connects us to our surroundings. It plays a vital role in how we perceive and interact with the world around us, alerting us to changes and potential dangers, and enhancing our experiences.

The Significance of Environmental Sounds

1. Understanding Each Environment’s Signature

Every environment has a distinct auditory signature that tells a story, contributing to our sense of place and situational awareness. From the bustling sounds of an airport to the comforting ambiance of a local Tim Hortons, each setting offers unique acoustic cues that help us navigate and feel connected to those spaces.

2. The Role of Sound in Human Evolution

Throughout human history, our survival has depended on our ability to quickly react to environmental changes, a skill honed through our auditory system. The ability to hear and interpret sounds has been crucial for our ancestors to find food, water, and shelter, and avoid dangers.

3. Hearing and Monitoring

Our hearing system does more than detect noise; it monitors a range of sounds that signify normalcy and safety:

• Natural Sounds: Such as rainfall and wind, which can inform us about weather conditions.
• Social Sounds: Including traffic or people talking in another room, providing cues about human activity and movement.
• Personal Sounds: Such as breathing and heartbeat, which are vital for personal health awareness.

4. The Impact of Hearing Loss

When we lose the ability to hear, our connection to these important sounds diminishes. The absence of auditory feedback can create a sense of isolation from the environment and people, often leading to feelings of depression and anxiety. The world may continue its rhythm, but without sound, it feels as though we are watching it through a silent film.

The Psychological Effects of Disconnection

Living without the ability to hear everyday sounds can make individuals feel cut off from the living world, trapped in a “pantomime” existence where the vibrancy of life is muted. This sensory deprivation can significantly impact mental health, as sound is integral to our emotional and cognitive engagement with our surroundings.

It impacts:

• intimacy, friendship, family relationship
• communication in the health care setting (e.g., understanding a therapeutic plan)
• talking to a clerk at the store
• conversations in the car
• listening to music
• learning foreign languages
• understanding accents
• employment
• using a phone
• misunderstanding the clients
• communication with colleagues

It causes:

• High level of emotional distress
• Overstimulated visual and auditory processing in the brain
• Bluffing is a form of lying which is treated by others as lacking interest in what is being said

Hearing contributes to the aesthetic pleasure of listening to music and sounds of nature.

Music stimulates the brain, mind, body, and sensitivity, reducing anxiety, high blood pressure, and pain. It also improves sleep, boosts moods, motivation, mental alertness, and memory.

Hearing aids help capture enough of the desired sounds and rhythms to stimulate your imagination, recreating familiar and beloved auditory images from music and the natural world to satisfy your needs.