Content: Hearing Vs Listening
- Comparison Chart
- Definition
- Key Differences
- Conclusion
Comparison Chart
| Meaning | Hearing refers to one's ability to perceive sounds, by receiving vibrations through ears. | Listening is something done consciously, that involve the analysis and understanding of the sounds you hear. |
| What is it? | An ability | A skill |
| Nature | Primary and continuous | Secondary and temporary |
| Act | Physiological | Psychological |
| Involves | Receipt of message through ears. | Interpretation of the message received by ears. |
| Process | Passive bodily process | Active mental process |
| Occurs at | Subconscious level | Conscious level |
| Use of senses | Only one | More than one |
| Reason | We are neither aware nor we have any control over the sounds we hear. | We listen to acquire knowledge and receive information. |
| Concentration | Not required | Required |
Definition of Hearing
The natural ability or an inborn trait that allows us to recognize sound through ears by catching vibrations is called the hearing. In simple terms, it is one of the five senses; that makes us aware of the sound. It is an involuntary process, whereby a person receives sound vibrations, continuously.
A normal human being’s hearing capability ranges from 20 to 20000 Hertz, called as audio or sonic. Any frequency above and below the given range is known as ultrasonic and infrasonic respectively.
Definition of Listening
Listening is defined as the learned skill, in which we can receive sounds through ears, and transform them into meaningful messages. To put simply, it is the process of diligently hearing and interpreting the meaning of words and sentences spoken by the speaker, during the conversation.
Listening is a bit difficult, because it requires concentration and attention, and the human mind is easily distracted. People use it as a technique to comprehend, what is being said, through different verbal and non-verbal signs, i.e. how it is being said? What type of words is used? Tone and pitch of voice, body language and so on.
Active listening is the key element; that makes the communication process effective. Further, it encompasses making sounds that show listener’s attentiveness and providing feedback. It had a greater influence in our lives and used to gain information, learn and understand things and so on.
Main Difference – Listening vs Hearing
Most of us assume that listening and hearing are the same. Not realizing the difference between listening and hearing is one of the main reasons for the lack of communication between people. Listening and hearing are different; hearing refers to the act of receiving sounds and becoming aware of sounds through your ears, but listening refers to making a conscious effort to perceive the sound. Thus, the main difference between listening and hearing lies in the conscious effort one makes to perceive sound.
This article covers,
1. What is Listening? – Meaning, Characteristics, and Examples
2. What is Hearing? –Meaning, Characteristics, and Examples
3. Difference Between Listening and Hearing
Difference Between Listening and Hearing with Examples
Post: Gaurav Akrani. Date: 5/13/2015. No Comments. Label: Distinguish Between.
Difference Between Hearing and Listening
Categories
- HEARING IMPAIRMENT
- Uncategorized
Tags
| Hearing is the act of perceiving sound and receiving sound waves or vibrations through your ear. | Listening is the act of hearing a sound and understanding what you hear. |
| Hearing is one of the five senses and it just happens all the time – whether you like it or not – unless you have a hearing problem | Listening Requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences. |
| Hearing simply happens. | Listening leads to learning. |
| Hearing is a skill where you use your ears only. It one of the five senses. | Listening uses different senses, like the sense of hearing, seeing, or sense of touch. |
| Hearing is an involuntary act where you simply receive vibrations through your ears. | Listening is a skill that lets the sound you hear go through your brain to process the meaning of it. |
| Physiological | Psychological |
| Subconscious level | Conscious level |
| Concentration is not required | Concentration is required |
Summary:
- Hearing and Listening uses both your ears.
- Hearing is receiving sound waves through your ears, while listening means hearing and understanding what you’ve heard.
- Hearing is part of the five senses, while listening is a choice to hear and analyse what you hear.
- Hearing is using your ears only, while listening is using your body’s other senses.
- Listening is observing other’s behavior that can add meaning to the message, while hearing is simply receiving sound vibrations.
- Listening can build better relationships with others, while hearing cannot.
- Take good care of your ears; you cannot listen when you cannot hear.
References: Online
- //www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-listening-and-hearing/
- //www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-listening-and-hearing
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Hearing vs. Listening
“Many people use the words “hearing” and “listening” interchangeably; however, there are several important differences between the two,” says Kelly Workman, PsyD, a psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center. According to Workman, hearing is the passive intake of sound while listening is the act of intentionally working to comprehend the sounds [e.g., words or background noises] you hear.
Kelly Workman, PsyD
The saying ‘In one ear, out the other’ speaks to the difference between hearing and listening.
— Kelly Workman, PsyD
Hearing
Passive
Involuntary
Requires no effort
Physiological perception of sound
Listening
Active
Voluntary
Requires effort
Intentional interpretation of sound
Hearing
Hearing is a passive, involuntary, and sensory process in which we perceive sounds. It is a physiological response that involves our perception of sound. It does not require focused attention.
For example, if you’re watching television, you can still hear the sound of traffic or sirens outside, your neighbor’s dog barking, and people laughing in the hallway.
Listening
Listening is an active, voluntary, and intentional process that involves making sense of the words and sounds you hear; it requires your attention. In turn, you may develop an emotional response to what you hear. Listening with the intent to understand is referred to as active listening.
For example, if you’re listening to someone talk about a difficult day they had at work, you will probably have your full attention focused on them. As they speak, you will start to understand what their experience was like and the impact it had on them. This will help you make thoughtful comments and ask relevant questions to further understand their experience.