Why do we have two ears? Much like having two eyes helps
us to see all around us, having two ears helps us locate
sound in time and space.
Balanced or binaural hearing is vital to your ability to
locate where a sound is coming from. The brain instinctively
locates a sound’s source by measuring the tiny differences
in duration and intensity in the way each ear hears the sound.
For example, when you’re crossing a street, the sound
of an approaching car reaches the closer ear a fraction of
a second before the other ear, and at a higher intensity.
These differences are translated by the brain, allowing you
to recognize the sound’s direction and distance from
you.
Two ears also help you to focus in on desired sounds and
ignore sounds you’re not interested in hearing. With
two inputs, the brain can select a specific sound and concentrate
on it. A common example of this is the cocktail party setting,
where you may overhear your name and shift your attention
to a conversation other than the one you’re involved
in. Hearing in stereo also gives a fuller quality to sound.
For all of these reasons, we’ve evolved with two ears.
That’s why, for those with a binaural hearing loss,
two hearing aids are often recommended.
Binaural Hearing Demo
For a demonstration of the importance of binaural hearing, click the button
below.
Note: The latest version of the Macromedia Flash
Player is required to hear these demonstrations. It can be
found here.
This demonstration also requires stereo speakers. Unless
your computer has external, hi-fidelity speakers, you will
not be able to appreciate the binaural aspect of this demonstration.
It is most effective if heard through stereo headphones.
