Audiology
What is the difference between listening and hearing?
Hearing is the ability to detect sounds. It is an automatic function that occurs when sound is transferred from the environment to our brains through our ears and nerves. We have no conscious control over it. A hearing test will check how well you can hear sounds, and specifically test the quietest sounds you can hear. That is why you have had your hearing tested.
Listening, on the other hand, is a conscious function; one in which we actively give attention to what we hear in order to process it. It is different to just hearing as it is a skill and can be improved with practice.
Listening requires concentration in order to make sense of what you have heard. Listening means paying attention not only to what is being said, but how it is said, the use of language and voice, and how the other person uses his or her body. For example, you might be able to hear the teacher talking, but you are not listening to what is being said, therefore you won’t remember what you have heard. In order to listen to the teacher, you need to concentrate on what they are saying and process the information.
What is normal?
Most people with normal hearing find it difficult to listen in noisy environments. Here are some examples where it is more difficult to hear:
- In a group conversation when lots of people are talking at once.
- Where there is a lot of background noise, for example in a restaurant, dining hall or outside when there is traffic passing.
It will feel more difficult to listen if you cannot get extra communication cues from the person talking to you. For example, if you cannot see their lips moving or their facial expressions, which help you to understand the information more clearly. A good example is when you are trying to listen to a phone call in a noisy place.
Most people with normal hearing will also find it more difficult to listen when they are distracted, feel unwell or are tired.
Why does it feel more difficult to hear now that I am older?
It is not that you cannot hear as well now, it is likely that it has just become more difficult to listen.
As you grow up you will find yourself in more challenging listening situations. Also, the information you need to understand will become more complex. For example, at school your teachers will be teaching you subjects which are more difficult to learn.
It feels harder to listen because you have to use more effort (brain power) to understand what is being said. If you zone out and stop concentrating, for even a short amount of time, you will find it harder to catch up.
There are also more stresses in your life as you get older, such as friendships, relationships, and exams. If you are worried about something, this can distract you from listening and can worry you at night – and if you haven’t slept as well because of this, listening can be more difficult too.
What can I do to help myself to listen?
- Get a good nights sleep every night. Being tired will mean that it is harder to concentrate and therefore harder to listen. Put mobile phones and computers away before you go to bed, as the bright light will keep you awake for longer.
- Prepare yourself to listen. Focus on the person speaking and put other things out of your mind.
- Remove other distractions whilst you are listening.
For example:
a. try not to doodle
b. try not to look out of the window
c. don’t talk to other people whilst you are listening
d. don’t listen to music
e. don’t look at your phone - Watch for non-verbal information. We don’t just listen with our ears, but also with our eyes. Look for lip patterns, facial expressions, eye-movements and hand gestures.
- If there is a particular room or place you find it more difficult to listen in, have a think if there is somewhere in the room that may be easier to listen. Things such as moving closer to the thing you want to listen to and further away from any distractions may help.
Did you know that only 7% of communication is the actual words spoken. The rest of communication is through body language and tone of voice. - You can also try some listening activities to improve your listening skills. Have a look at the following activities;
Listening skills activities
Draw the description (quiet)
Do this in quiet. Ask someone to explain an object or person in detail whilst you draw it. Get them to draw the object or person at the same time and compare your drawings.
How well were you able to listen to their descriptions? How similar were your drawings?
Draw the description (noise)
It’s more difficult to listen in noise. Firstly, turn on the radio/music, and turn on the television at a normal volume (make the environment noisy, but not loud!).
Do this activity with a friend, parent, brother, or sister. Ask them to explain an object or person in detail whilst you draw it. Get them to draw the object or person at the same time and compare your drawings.
How well were you able to listen to their descriptions? How similar were your drawings? Was it more difficult in noise? Did they need to repeat more?
Listening for new words
You will hear lots of new words every day. When you are listening to your music or watching a television program, listen for words that you have not heard before. Write the words down and find out what they mean.
What can I hear?
Close your eyes for a few seconds and think about what you can hear. There are lots of sounds around you that your brain chooses not to listen to. What noises can you hear?
Listening to music
When you’re listening to your music listen to the different sounds that are used to make the music. How many people are singing? What instruments are being used to make the different sounds? Listen to music and see if you can pick out a particular instrument or drum beat to listen to, can you tap out the beat?
Hide the phrase
Agree a hidden word or phrase with one other person. Start with simple phrase such as “I love football,” or “My Dad works a lot’; then as you get good at it choose a slightly more obscure phrase, such as “John does yoga every Saturday,” or “I saw a UFO in my garden last night.”
You then have to develop a discussion that somehow uses this phrase. After you have prepared the discussion perform it in front of a group of friends or family and see if they can guess the hidden word or phrase. If they found the correct secret phrase, they get a point. If no one finds the pair’s secret phrase, the pair that developed the discussion get a point.
Listen for the word
Using songs, watching TV shows, or even listening to podcasts will help build skills. While listening to a song or TV show choose a word to listen for and count how many times you hear it.
Stand up and sit down
Agree a sound, like ‘a’ in cat, plastic, and fast. Then ask someone to read a paragraph from a book, magazine or newspaper. Whenever you hear this sound for the first time, you should stand up. When you hear it again, sit down. Continue until the end of the paragraph.
Ask for the paragraph to be read slowly at first and then more quickly.
Vowel discrimination
Make two different colour note cards (e.g. one red card and one blue card). Agree one vowel sound for the red card (e.g. the /ae/ sound as in “bat”) and another vowel to the blue card (e.g. the /ei/ sound as in “bay”). Ask someone to read a paragraph and raise the card in the air for the correct vowel sound you heard.
For a more advanced game, make more cards for different sounds. You could also recreate the pattern of sounds you heard by lining up their note cards in the correct order.
Contact us
If you require further information, please contact us on:
- Telephone: 01642 854071 or
- Switchboard: 01642 850850, Extension 54071
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.southtees.nhs.uk/services/audiology/childrens-hearing/
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]