You may have heard the term “selective hearing” before. In many cases, especially when discussing young children, people use the phrase to describe a person who only hears what they want to hear. Selective attention hearing, however, is a skill employed by those attempting to understand a specific noise in a busy auditory environment, like a party—earning the skill its other name, “cocktail party effect.”
How Does Selective Attention Hearing Help Us Understand Others?
Two essential ways selective attention hearing helps us understand those around us include:
- Filtering out extraneous noise. In bustling environments such as crowded cafes or lively Friday night dinners, selective hearing lets you hone in on important information while disregarding background clatter.
- Locating the speaker. Selective hearing aids focus on a particular speaker or conversation, facilitating communication in group settings like cocktail parties.
Insights From Research on Selective Attention Hearing
One study on selective attention hearing found that people with hearing loss struggled in acoustically challenging environments. Where those with normal hearing can pick out individual sounds more easily, those with hearing loss have trouble understanding their desired sound source within a competing auditory environment.
An excellent example of selective attention hearing in action is two friends hanging out at Center Brick Pizza during a noisy Friday night dinner rush. The person without hearing loss will likely use selective attention hearing to understand their friend while ignoring the chatter around them. The person with hearing loss will struggle to pick out their friend’s speech amidst the other competing sounds.
Using Hearing Aids To Improve Selective Attention Hearing
Hearing aids are one of the most effective tools for improving selective attention hearing. These sophisticated devices are engineered to isolate important speech sounds while suppressing background noise. Doing so allows the wearer to concentrate on their desired auditory information, regardless of the surrounding clamor. With hearing aids, you can enjoy your friend’s company without worrying about the competing noise around you.
With the help of hearing aids, you can improve your selective attention hearing for more accessible communication. Contact Massachusetts Hearing Group today to discuss your treatment options with one of our specialists.