Auraldiversity: Do You Hear Differently?

This article explores the sense that opens us to the world of sound: hearing. Textbooks often repeat the same numbers and figures on the sensitivity of human hearing, as if we all share the same set of symmetrical mechanical ears. Here, you will discover hearing as we experience it day-to-day: the different kinds and qualities of hearing you, your friends, and your family may have experienced, and how hearing may change as we grow older. We call this real-life approach to understanding hearing auraldiversity. This article will tell you about some important kinds of hearing differences such as hyperacusis, misophonia, and tinnitus, and it will explain the brief changes in hearing sensitivity that sometimes occur, such as after sudden loud sounds. Hearing can open us up to the world in a very powerful way, but we must remember that it is a vulnerable sense that needs protecting from too much loud sound.