Actually, it works great! With just one ear, you get about an 8dB increase, and with both ears you get 12dB! Simply put, you hear 3 times better! If you haven't tried it lately, give it a try! Even this analog method will improve your hearing a little! Please refer to the "Tools and Services for Better Hearing" page for other tools and services that can help you hear better, even if you have hearing loss.
Why is it easier to hear if you put your hand on your ear?
The part we usually call the ear is the part of the image. This is called the auricle. The main role of the auricle is to collect sound. Therefore, placing your hand over the ear increases the effect of collecting sound and makes it easier to hear.
How much does 10dB mean for better hearing?
By placing your hands over your ears, you can hear 8 to 10 dB better. No, no, no, I don't know exactly how much easier it is to hear when you say that! I know there are many people who say, "I don't know how much it makes it easier to hear. The dB (decibel) is a unit of sound pressure, consisting of B (bell) and d (deci). Didn't you learn dL (deciliter) or something like that in elementary school? The deci in dB (decibel) is the same as this deci in deciliter. This dB of sound pressure is logarithmic. What is a logarithm? you might think, but if you're curious, look it up! Looking at the numbers alone, 20dB and 40dB seem to be twice as much. But since they are logarithmic, there is actually a 10-fold difference. If you do the math, 10dB easier to hear means 3 times easier to hear. I don't understand what you mean by "numerical values"! You say, "I don't understand! I know, right? I don't get it either. Let's take a look at how much of a difference 10dB makes in the environment in our daily lives. For example, when you have a normal conversation with someone in front of you, the volume of your voice is about 60dB. Then, 70dB is about as loud as the sound of cicadas up close.
If you increase the sound level by another 10 dB, you get 80 dB, which is about the loudness of the sound inside a pachinko parlor. In other words, if you put your hands on both ears, you will be able to hear normal conversation as well as the sound of cicadas. What do you think? It's quite effective, isn't it? Please refer to "dB (decibel), a unit used to express the loudness of sound," if you want to know more about it.
Please refer to "What is dB (decibel)?" for more information on sound level.
Different people hear differently
The shape of the auricle differs from person to person. The hollows and grooves in these auricles amplify resonant sounds. Therefore, the degree of amplification of resonant sound differs from person to person. This means that the way we hear differs from person to person. Some people hear high notes more easily, others hear low notes more easily, and so on. Isn't it strange?
Frontal sounds are the easiest to hear
Our auricles face forward. This makes it easier for us to hear frontal sounds. Other animals can move their ears, so they try to pick up the sound of footsteps of foreign enemies by moving their ears from side to side. Unfortunately, humans are not equipped with such a function, so we have to shake our heads.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is a very analog act to listen, and it does not seem to be effective at all.
However, it is actually a very reasonable method that improves hearing by about 10 dB.
You may not have many chances to do this, but once you try it, you will hear much better.
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