Hearing

Nov 18, 2013 at 11:21

Hearing is a passive action, something most of us just do. Our ears are the means by which we hear and listen (there is a difference). The ears have many more functions:

• Balance. The vestibule, which is part of the inner ear, controls balance, coordination, verticality, muscle tone, posture and the muscles of our eyes. Because of the vestibule we are able to develop an image of our body in space. The vestibule is also an important relay for all sensory information that our body sends to our brain. Children who have vestibular problems often have sensory integration difficulties.

• Comprehension - Cochlea, the other part of the inner ear which function is to analyse sounds, important for language comprehension.

• Energy Function - high-frequency sounds (Mozart, Bach, etc) energizes the brain and we can focus, concentrate, organize, memorize, learn, work for long periods of time. Low-frequency sounds (rap, rock, etc) depletes our energy by activating the semicircular canals of the vestibule, making our bodies move. Hyperactive children may be moving around constantly in an attempt to "charge" their brain through vestibular activities.

• Listening - we can have excellent hearing and be poor listeners, unable to concentrate and have difficulty reading. Listening is the ability to take in information and to filter out irrelevant information. Many people have selective hearing, not hearing loss. Listening is being able to cut out the irrelevant information (sounds) and only process useful information. Many learning and behaviour problems relate to an inability to achieve this.

• Just as we have a dominant eye, we have a dominant ear. If our right ear is dominant we process incoming auditory information faster (than the left ear) and better control the parameters of voice and speech: intensity, frequency, timber, rhythm and flow of sentences.

• The can only create the sounds we can hear, hence the quality and our vocal range of our voice relates directly to our ability to hear. To improve our voice we need to improve our listening skills. People with dull flat voices tend to have learning problems, be poor listeners and may be left ear dominate.

• The ear is the first fully functional organ (at four and half months) in the foetus. Henry Truby reports that a six-month-old foetus moves its body to the rhythm of the mother's speech. Tomatis believes the foetus hears and listens to the mother's voice. and mother's voice is not only an emotional nutrient to the child but also prepares the child to acquire language after birth.

• Paul Madaule in, When Listening Comes Alive,by Moulin Publishing, 1994, compiled the checklist below to indicate listening and hearing problems.

• Developmental history

This knowledge is extremely important in early identification and prevention of listening problems. It also sheds light on the possible causes.

• a stressful pregnancy
• difficult birth
• adoption
• early separation from the mother
• delay in motor development
• delay in language development
• recurring ear infections

• Receptive listening

This is the listening that is directed outward. It keeps us attuned to the world around us, to what's going on at home, at work or in the classroom.

• short attention span
• distractibility
• over sensitivity to sounds
• misinterpretation of questions
• confusion of similar-sounding words
• frequent need for repetition
• inability to follow sequential instructions

• Expressive listening

This is the listening that is directed within. We use it to control our voice when we speak and sing.

• flat and monotonous voice
• hesitant speech
• weak vocabulary
• poor sentence structure
• overuse of stereotyped expressions
• inability to sing in tune
• confusion or reversal of letters
• poor reading comprehension
• poor reading aloud
• poor spelling

• Motor skills

The ear of the body (the vestibule), which controls balance, coordination and body image, also needs close attention.

• poor posture
• fidgety behaviour
• clumsy, uncoordinated movements
• poor sense of rhythm
• messy handwriting
• hard time with organization, structure
• confusion of left and right
• mixed dominance
• poor sports skills

• The level of energy

The ear acts as a dynamo, providing us with the energy we need to survive and lead fulfilling lives.

• difficulty getting up
• tiredness at the end of the day
• habit of procrastinating
• hyperactivity
• tendency toward depression
• feeling overburdened with everyday tasks

• Behavioural and social adjustment

A listening difficulty is often related to these:

• low tolerance for frustration
• poor self-confidence
• shyness
• difficulty making friends
• tendency to withdraw, avoid others
• irritability
• immaturity
• low motivation, no interest in school / work
• negative attitude toward school/work

The hearing and comprehension correction covered in Motivational Kinesiology Level Two can assist with hearing and listening problems.