A little while back this popular gif of three telephone towers playing jump rope circulated the internet. The gif evoked a reaction from people from all over the world and polarised audiences to a “white and gold or blue and black dress” standard. Why? Because the gif consisted of zero sound yet many people could hear the thud of the middle telephone tower landing on the ground. So, how could this be?
While there is no scientific evidence consensus on this particular gif, many experts speculate that people are experiencing a phenomenon known as visually-evoked auditory response (vEAR). This involves the convergence of visual and auditory events, similarly to synesthesia – a condition where the experience of one sense triggers another. For example, seeing sounds and tasting numbers (yes, these are real examples).
While not a lot is known about vEAR, it’s looking more common than originally believed with 21% of participants in one study claiming to experience this phenomenon. So, what is actually happening?
A plausible explanation is that our brain is filling in for sounds that don’t occur in our reality. Throughout our lives, we are exposed to many sounds created by certain movements: typing on a keyboard, footsteps on the ground, chatter with lip movements, the shattering of a glass when it’s dropped, and more. When we see an action with no sound accompanying it, it could be that our brains are still producing the accompanying sound, just inside of our own brains.
Still, not much is known about this condition – especially as many people with varying degrees of hearing loss report a mixture of hearing the thud, feeling the thud, or hearing nothing at all. For now, this event remains in speculation. However, if you want to continue to test your vEAR, a subreddit community has emerged that posts “noisy gifs” that you may also hear.
Other Hearing Troubles
On the other hand, if you’re at the other end of the spectrum – seeing visuals accompanied with no sound – then your hearing troubles may be more understandable. If you’re experiencing hearing loss there may be many reasons as to why. As there are various types of hearing loss, the best way to get to the bottom of your symptoms is to go and see a professional by booking a hearing test. These are quick, pain-free, and easy to conduct. The sooner you book in a test, the sooner you can work towards getting your hearing back.
Attune’s team of experienced audiologists and experts provide the highest standard of care in hearing healthcare. With skill, expertise, and a dedication to each patient, Attune’s team works to vastly enhance the lives of those experiencing hearing loss. Book in your test with Attune by enquiring online today.
