Many years ago I applied for a job as a court reporter. In order to get this position it was necessary for me to take a hearing test with a specialist. I was rather concerned about this because I had been having some considerable difficulty with my hearing in situations where there was competing noises and voices, such as in a restaurant situation. I had this hearing test with the specialist and then waited in his office for the results. He came in and sat down opposite me with a notebook on his knee and paused. I thought Oh dear, this is it, Im going deaf. I asked Whats the verdict? And he said, I am sorry to have to tell you...but you have perfect hearing. It took me a minute or two to realise what he had said. He had been teasing me! Then I said, Well why do I have so much difficulty hearing in certain situations, such as when I am in a group of people at a restaurant. Why cant I distinguish what is being said? He looked at me for a while and then said, Have you tried listening? He then explained that women who have children often developed the habit of tuning out. This bad habit can then become generalised. Well, I left his office and to my amazement, from that moment on I didnt have difficulty of hearing. What he had said was definitely applicable to me. Right now I am reading a book called, Memory, How to develop, train and use it. This book claims that good hearing is as much a function of the good use of the mind and its memory as it is of just good hearing. Memory is of the mind and so is the mental faculty of hearing which must be trained and developed. It is well-known that some people hear better tthan others, but all people hear certain things rather than other things. The acuteness of this faculty differs in different people according to the degree of interest and attention they put to the task of listening. A sleeping mother will waken when she hears the slightest whimper of her child whilst not reacting to loud noises outside her window. People hear only that in which they are interested. The remedy for poor hearing and poor memory is to concentrate attention and interest on what is being heard. Deafness is often attributed to lack of interest and attention. If we direct attention toward sound then we will hear. Half of the deafness that exists is due to inattention. People dont listen properly. Persons who have poor memories of hearing impressions will need to develop interest in what they are hearing to improve their hearing and retention of information. .Hearing and remembering are linked. Atrophy happens when interest and concentration are not exercised. If we listen well e will hear well and remember what we have heard.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:32:36 +0000
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