[terry parr]

stumbled upon this paper just last night.  even though i was familiar with some of the physiological explanations that attempt to describe how human hearing works, my understanding was very superficial. 

since there is no "anatomy and physiology of human hearing" circle here on AC (even though there needs to be.  what an obvious, glaring omission for an audio discussion board where most people here enjoy both music and sound reproduction equipment on a much deeper level than the average person).   i searched for a circle here on the board that i felt would fit this subject the best.  or the least worst.   

to say this article was fascinating to me would be an understatement.  i had never known nor thoughtfully considered the complex inner-workings of the middle and inner ear.  what a marvelous, wonderful hearing mechanism we all have.  and it's all the more marvelous and wonderful when you take time to consider all of the separate component parts that go into how we recognize and perceive sound.   

and as far as sound perception goes, they still can't explain a lot of exactly "how" our brain perceives certain sounds.  but, there's a lot that they do know as far as the mechanics of the workings of the middle and inner ear.  it's the interpretive part that is the brains' job where the least is known and understood.

i just found the paper very interesting and worthy of some thoughtful consideration. 

 
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwiki.dxarts.washington.edu%2Fgroups%2Fgeneral%2Fwiki%2F9e11b%2Fattachments%2F012ef%2FThe%2520ear%2520and%2520the%2520perception%2520of%2520sound%2520-%2520Alton%2520Everest%2520(from%2520The%2520Master%2520Handbook%2520Of%2520Acoustics).pdf&ei=-IlCVKuvBYHAggSzqoHIBA&usg=AFQjCNFsQdiH5W5BEK3NSDzUZUMVd1HAQw


google:  The Ear And The Perception Of Sound by Alton Everest



 





 

[geowak]

That is a good read. It is interesting to me that many hear on AC have offered opinions on system components and how "good" those certain components sound or how "poorly" those other components sound..yet many do not know how well they actually hear sounds. In other words- How good is one's hearing? How accurate are your your ears?

It's kinda like getting on a weight scale that has not been properly calibrated. Is it off by 2lbs? 50lbs? or does it give you an accurate number for your actual weight?

[Early B.]

That is a good read. It is interesting to me that many hear on AC have offered opinions on system components and how "good" those certain components sound or how "poorly" those other components sound..yet many do not know how well they actually hear sounds. In other words- How good is one's hearing? How accurate are your your ears?

It's kinda like getting on a weight scale that has not been properly calibrated. Is it off by 2lbs? 50lbs? or does it give you an accurate number for your actual weight?

Nah, ear accuracy is largely irrelevant. Wine or food aficionados don't sit around and talk about how accurate their taste buds are. Can you imagine Bubba, a barbeque connoisseur, waxing philosophically about how he spent twenty years developing his palate so he could determine the best barbeque in Texas?     

[terry parr]

well, to me the article was awe-inspiring.  and after reading it, i was left with an even deeper appreciation for my sense of hearing.  to the point of being humbled by it.

 and i was also forced to think of those who can't hear well (either by the cause of disease, or by having suffered an injury which might have left them with impaired hearing).  and i felt a true sense of empathy toward them.   

the enjoyment which my sense of hearing allows me to experience is something that some people will never know. 

after reading this piece, it was enough to put a lump in my throat.

some people may feel the same as i do after they spend some time contemplating the ideas in the quoted paper.  others will glance at it, shrug their shoulders and quickly move on.

 oh, well.  either it resonates with whoever reads it, or it doesn't.         

 

[JRace]

Great article, and i am glad it hit you so hard!

I work with the hard of hearing and see the devastating effects every day.
Whats worse is the sheer ignorance of the people around them, and how they treat the hard of hearing person.

Would you ever stand at the top of a flight of stairs and get mad when the person in a wheel chair could not come up?

Yet they will get mad when their hard of hearing spouse wont answer them from a different room.

I have now 10 clients who have lost both vision and hearing.
Every single one has stated if they could only have one back it would be their hearing.

Until it is gone you have no idea how important it is.

Do you keep your eyes open when you sleep?
Do you see behind you?
Do you see around walls?