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| Noise can overwhelm a listener child. photo dreamstimefree_8577967 |
Our five main sources of "input" are sight,
hearing, touch, taste and smell, although we also talk about others, like our
sense of direction or of time. We use all our senses at different times, and often together, but some people have a strong
preference for one.
John
often says, “I hear what you’re saying,” or “that rings a bell.” He likes the
TV turned down low.
Jane
says, “I see what you mean,” and “watch what you’re doing.” She likes her bedroom to be pitch black at
night.
Listeners
John is a musician. You can tell by his
preference for metaphors, (comparing one thing with another) that use hearing
as their base. References to bells, ears, ticking clocks, being “in tune” with
others and traffic noise can indicate that a person is very aware of sound. John
likes to use his “auditory channel.”
Jane, on the other hand, likes to see
things. I’ll talk a bit more about visual people in the next post.
Depending heavily on one sense can have a downside.
Sometimes people, especially some children, are so sensitive to one kind of
input that they find it distracts them from using their other senses. Many
musicians and others with an “auditory preference” find it impossible to
concentrate when they hear any noise at all, especially loud music.
Children who are sensitive to sound can quickly become tired and unhappy in a noisy classroom.
- Speak calmly. Your tone is an important way of communicating and “listeners” will be sensitive to how you sound. Speak too loud and you can come over as aggressive.
- Make sure your voice is smooth.
Hoarseness, a too-deep, gravelly tone or a high-pitched squeak will infuriate a
keen listener.
- Practice breathing from your
diaphragm. This is the best way to overcome any problems with voice quality.
Your voice will become firmer and you will need to raise it less often to get
yourself heard.
- Offer spoken instructions alongside
pictures or the written word where possible, especially when explaining to
children. People who prefer the hearing channel are likely to remember things
they hear more easily than things they see and touch.
- Turn the music down. Yes, I
mean you, restaurant managers and shop owners. Above a very low level, many
people with high sensitivity to sound simply cannot bear to hear the noise. It hurts
and distracts. They will leave and never return.
- Try gentle, quiet music as a
way to calm an over-excited auditory child, cutting out visual clutter such as
a heap of toys. Keep your voice soft and speak slowly.
- Check emails from your boss and colleagues. If they uses expressions that suggest they’re “listeners,” use similar metaphors to make your words resonate with them.
