The term “cocktail party effect” refers to the human ability to focus on a single speaker while tuning out noisy background noise. Research indicates that the left side of our brains picks out the desired sounds from the background noise. This makes sense when you take into account that speech signals are processed in the left brain. When researchers monitored the brain’s response to different sound combinations, it was observed that the left hemisphere displayed the most neural activity associated with processing sounds in a noisy setting. While no one is suggesting that today’s highly sophisticated hearing instruments are on a par with the brain when it comes to picking out desired sounds in noisy environments, they do remarkably well.
Hearing loss is a common health concern for many people, and it can result from a number of different causes. The good news is that some types of hearing loss are preventable. With just a few small changes in habit and increased awareness, the effort to preserve your hearing can have a big payoff in the future. To schedule a hearing assessment, please call BETTER HEARING CENTER. We’re excited to assist you in making decisions about your hearing health at New Hampshire’s premier hearing care provider.
P.S. The more formal term for the ability to focus on a specific source amidst the din of a crowded room is “selective hearing.”
