Reader questions and feedback on optimized use of your senses. Also refer to smell, taste, hearing, vision, 6th sense, curiosity, awareness, observations, psychic, future, foreseeing, mind reading, power, deja vu, time, fear, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Using Your Senses
Hearing
The following 51 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Wants to play a WAV file on computer
- Deaf boyfriend could tell I had pneumonia
- Lost hearing and doctor made it worse
- Why are sounds more clear at night?
- Do high frequency sounds cause tinnitus?
- Hears high pitched sounds at night
- In an area with many drug dealers
- Acceptable noise level in garment industry
- Protecting the ear from loud sounds
- Has special skill in hearing
Wants to play a WAV file on computer
Question
August 6, 2009
dear sir,
i have a small sound file. its in wav format. im studying in a
university. they give a assignment to find what sound is that.
im unable to detect what sound is that. need your help.
kmal - Malaysia
18117
Answer
If you have a PC with Windows that also has speakers, such that you can hear other sounds, you should be able to detect and hear a WAV file, simply by clicking on it. Check the the teacher to make sure the file is compatible to your computer.
You can convert the WAV file to an MP3 file, which can be played on computers and players. You can download a free program from:
http://download.cnet.com/WAV-to-MP3-Encoder/3000-2140_4-10060500.html
They also list other free programs.
I hope that helps.
Deaf boyfriend could tell I had pneumonia
Question
December 29, 2008
I HAVE BEEN DATING A GUY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS HE IS DEAF WITH OUT HIS HEARING AID WHEN HE HAS IT ON HE ONLY HAS 10 PERCENT HEARING I WAS SICK A FEW WEEKS AGO AS WE WERE SLEEPING HE TOLD ME IN THE MORNING THAT I NEED TO GO TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE HE COULD FEEL THAT MY LUNG WERE FULL. SURE ENOUGH I WENT TO DOCTOR AND I HAD PNEUMONIA. I AM WELL NOW. BUT FOR THREE NIGHT HE HAS WOKE ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND TOLD ME I WAS NOT BREATHING IN MY SLEEP. CAN A PERSON WHO IS DEAF SENSE THESE KINDS OF THINGS?
Deanna - USA
17019
Answer
When a person has lost much of a major sense, the other senses become more sensitive to compensate for the loss. Your boyfriend could have sensed that you weren't breathing normally from feeling the subtle movements of your chest.
Also note that doctors used to be able to what disease a person had from smelling their breath and odors from the skin.
If nothing else, your boyfriend is very aware about conditions that a person with normal hearing would miss.
Lost hearing and doctor made it worse
Question
August 27, 2008
It started out about a year and a half ago with a slight swishing sound from my left ear. I went to a hearing doctor and his aid gave me a hearing test. They put me in a booth and put on these big ear phones. The first thing that happened was that there was suction that was pulled into my ear. It was so uncomfortable and after that, the hearing test for both of my ears were very negative, mostly the left problem ear. They told me that I definitely had a slight hearing problem especially from my left ear. I told them that after the suction with the headphones, I could hear very minimal out of that left ear. The doctor said that it would've happened anyway in due time. I don't except that answer. When I went in to see the doctor, I just had a slight swishing sound. Now, I have the swishing and a ringing sound. Sometimes my ears feel like they are so plugged that I can barely hear anything. Car sounds different, when I'm in an inclosed place, the ringing gets worse. I have to turn up the volume on my television because the ringing from my left ear is so loud. When I close my right ear, I can hardly hear without having to tell people, excuse me. I was better off before I went to see the doctor. Is it too late to have it corrected? I feel as though I need to have reverse suction to unplug my ears. The swishing and the ringing is blended together. Sometimes the sound is louder than other times.
Sandra - USA
16419
Answer
I have not been impressed by the doctors who specialize in hearing. I've seen hearing phones that were extremely dirty and doctors that seemed incompetent. Your experience with such a doctor reinforces my opinion.
There isn't much you can do about the doctor except to tell others (including your family doctor) not to go to this guy.
As far as your hearing problem goes, there are some possible causes.
The loss could actually be caused by excessive clenching of you jaw. See:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/health/dental_tmj_symptoms.htm for information on that.
Ringing in your ear is often a symptom of tinnitus. If you also get dizzy, it could be Meniere disease. See:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/health/meniere.htm
Excessive sinus congestion can also cause a temporary loss of hearing.
A simple test of your hearing is to put your hand near your ear and rub your thumb and fore finger together. You should be able to hear the faint rubbing sound. You can tell if one ear can hear less than the other with this test.
Listening to too much loud music, aging, or some diseases can cause a loss of hearing. Start with your family doctor and get a recommendation of a good hearing doctor. Often university medical schools provide the best care in such a specialty.
I hope these ideas help.
Why are sounds more clear at night?
Question
April 19, 2008
Why the voices of your neighbour is clearly hear at night? Explain it relate with REFRACTION OF SOUND WAVES
Jack - Malaysia
15749
Answer
One reason the sound is clearer at night is because there are less noises to mask the sounds of your neighbors. Cars and other activity cause a din of noise that makes it more difficult to hear. At night, that noise is not as prevalent.
Also, at night the air is often more still, and sound travels better and is absorbed less in still air than in turbulent air.
Finally, there may be an effect of cool air near the ground, as explained in the lesson:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/sound_over_water.htm
Do high frequency sounds cause tinnitus?
Question
January 29, 2008
Is it possible that high frequency sounds have any effect on the condition 'tinnitus'????? just recently diagnosed with tinnitus but living in a house with wifi, cordless phones, etc. could this have any effect on tinnitus?
rich - USA
15233
Answer
People seem to get tinnitus when they get older. One source of the problem is injury to hearing due to excessive exposure to high volume sounds. Loud high frequency sounds have more energy and could cause more damage than lower frequencies. Listening to loud music with ear plugs could cause the damage, but not something like a cordless phone.
There are other possible causes of tinnitus, including infection, wax in the ear, Ménière's disease, and various medications. Some people even get tinnitus from taking aspirin.
If it is caused by old age or injury, there is not much you can do about it. But if it has some other source, you can reduce the symptom.
Hears high pitched sounds at night
Question
February 8, 2006
I have a very unusual problem. Their is a high pitch noise that is some how coming into the house. It starts about 930pm till about 830am-908am very night for about 8 months now. It keeps me awake at night.My husband can not hear it only me.I have tried to get help to stop it. I had a acoustic engineer come to my house.The noise was low in volume but high in pitch. The acoustic man said that he picked up a slight freq. spike on his equip. But said he could not hear it.Did I have tinnitus.No,I have been tested.I can hear noises that my dogs hear!My neighbors have home communication equip.in their houses on both sides of me. That is when this started. One has solar panel and satellite dish. I beleive it is from something they have.Four of my friends have heard the noise when it started out louder it is lower now.Problems with these neighbors we do not get along!Called FCC no help. Please reply need help to solve this? Any ideas? Thank You,Rosemarie Lechleidner
Rosemarie - USA
9994
Answer
Women can usually hear higher pitched sounds than men, so it is not surprising that your husband can't hear the sound. Also, you must have a higher range of hearing than the average person. But that does not solve the problem.
Sometimes electronic equipment can cause high pitched noises, but more often they are caused by motors and pumps that are running. The firs thing you need to do is to try to find out where the sounds are coming from. That often can be difficult with such noises.
Last summer I would hear an irritating noise in an upstairs bedroom around 10 p.m. once a week. It ended up to be a pump that a neighbor had to clean out his swimming pool at night. Their house was located a block away. So, you can see it may take some investigation to find the source of the noise.
You might ask your neighbors if they have some equipment that starts at 9:30 or if they've heard some noises. Being friendly about it may allow you to find the source.
Even if you find out where the sound is coming from, you may not be able to get the noise to stop, but at least you know the source.
Note that since you are aware of the sound, you are focusing on it and hear it more than you should. One thing you can do to help sleep is to get a white noise source or restful sound CD player that will help to mask the sounds. People often use such devices to mask out TV sound and such.
I hope these ideas help.
In an area with many drug dealers
Question
November 5, 2005
Hi,
I live in an apartment building in Hamilton, Ontario. Poor management and quantity instead of quality renting got crack dealers into the building. Many of us are moving out, but have to hang in until the end of the month.
The dealers have electronic gadgets that increase their warning time in case of raids, but some of them can make tenants sick. About five weeks ago I ended up twice in a hospitals emergency ward, because of stroke like symptoms. When EMS arrived in front of the building to pick me up, the crack dealers and their customers on the apartment balcony above mine started jeering and hollering with glee. Still, I didnt connect the dots.
The next time I heard a deep hum from their apartment for a few seconds and fell sick again immediately. I thought it was coincidence, but when it happened repeatedly, and mostly at the same time, and tested it by staying away during the crucial time. When I stayed away I had no health problems.
Here are the symptoms: A tingling all over my body, difficulty walking, I move like drunken, numbness in some parts of my body, light headedness, extreme jumpiness, and sometimes headaches. These effects can last up to eight hours after getting hit.
I reported the incidents to the police, but was brushed off at the front desk already. The Hamilton Police is stuck in the 19th Century while the dealers are moving towards the 22nd. If its not a fist, a knife, a gun, and blood, it isnt assault. If one dies from what I experience, then its natural cause.
I have no doubt that the dealers have done this before and that they will continue doing it to other people. They know that they have nothing to worry from a completely useless police force that provides no protection.
Would you be able, at least, to tell me what causes these symptoms? Is there a possibility to counter it? If yes, how? Is there a way of getting what happens on record so that I can by-pass the police and bring it to a prosecutor. Has there been any scientific work done that I can bring to the prosecutor?
I would really be most grateful, if you could assist me in this matter.
Henry - Canada
8820
Answer
I'm not sure that the electronic gadgets that the crack dealers use could really cause illness. Note that you are living under considerable stress in your building and in that environment. Certain noises could aggravate your stress and set off an attack. Your symptoms certainly sound like the affect of extreme stress and anxiety.
In most cities the police cannot handle situations where there are a large number of drug dealers. In some cases, the police amy even be on their payroll. Unless you are a crusader with a large number of people backing you, there is really nothing you can do about the social situation.
Trying to press charges or pursue the matter can only cause you more aggravation. Your best bet is to get out of that toxic environment as soon as possible. I wouldn't even wait until the end of the month. Find a place in a neighborhood that is not a center of drug dealing. It may take some looking, but I am sure there are good places to live in Hamilton that are affordable.
Start to look after your health with relaxation exercises. You need to heal your stressful condition before it seriously affects your health. Let others worry about the dealers. You've got to take care of yourself.
Best wishes, and I hope things work out for you.
Acceptable noise level in garment industry
Question
August 25, 2005
I want to know the noise level in garment industry and vibration of sewing m/c
so that we can conclude that what is the permissible limit of sound level in garment industry which does not affect the workers adversely.
pooja - INDIA
7877
Answer
Unfortunately, I do not have the noise level values specific to the garment industry.
In the United States, the occupational noise exposure limit is 90 decibels for 8 hours of work, according to the goverment OSHA department. See:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9735&p_table=STANDARDS for more information.
I am not sure if the government of India has set noise limitation standards. You should check with them first.
It is difficult to measure the sound, even with a sound-level meter. The noise varies at different locations in the work area.
It is in the best interest of the company to reduce the noise level as much as they can through the use of sound absorbing materials. The company will find the workers produce more and will have fewer days off from sickness.
Protecting the ear from loud sounds
Question
August 13, 2005
I am student from africa.I will like to ask if the ear has any mechanism to protect it from sounds with large amplitudes?That is if it can reduce the amount of sound tha enter into the ear like that of the ear.
Abugabe - Ghana
7781
Answer
Very loud noises can damage the inner workings of the ear and affect the hearing, especially if the noises happen many times. Ear plugs or special noise reduction headsets seem to be the only way to protect the ears from loud sounds and possible injury.
Has special skill in hearing
Question
July 13, 2005
Hi,
I noticed several years ago that I'm particularly good at differentiating between sound types. As part of my job, I answer the telephones. Unless, I'm heavily focused on a particular task, I can distinguish well between callers. Additionally, I am particularly good at pronouncing different languages because I can "see" how different sounds made by a speaker are translated in the throat/mouth. Other than learning another language, is there anything else I could do with “my gift” of hearing – perhaps something more practical and useful?
Thank you for your time.
Julia M.
- USA
7533
Answer
Yes, I would think there would be some sort of job where you could use your special skill. But I am at a loss of what sort of job would need someone who has such sensitive hearing. Perhaps companies that dealt in audio equipment might need a person to check the sound quality of their devices. Or maybe working with the hearing impared?
You might check with companies, doctors and local colleges to get information on any suggested positions that would fit your skills. Ask around. You never can tell what someone will come up with as an idea.
Best wishes in finding a use for your skill. Keep looking, and you'll find something.
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