Do Blind People Have Better Hearing? Let’s Find Out

15 Mar, 2024

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Have you ever heard the saying that losing one sense sharpens the others? It’s a fascinating idea, especially when it comes to the notion that people who are blind might just have a superpower when it comes to hearing. But is there any truth to this, or is it just a piece of old wives’ lore? In this article, we’re going to dive deep into the science and stories behind this belief. We’ll explore what researchers have discovered about how the absence of sight might affect a person’s hearing abilities. So, buckle up as we embark on this journey to understand the incredible ways our brains might adapt to the world around us when one of the senses is taken out of the picture.

What is blindness?

Blindness is a heterogeneous group of eye disorders characterized by reduced visual acuity or color perception. This pathology is one of the most significant medical and social problems as it leads to patients’ disability. However, 3/4 of blindness cases are reversible with timely diagnosis and treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 100 million blind people worldwide, and this number increases every year. 90% of the total blind population resides in developing countries, with only 10% in developed countries. Besides cataracts and glaucoma, background, infectious, and parasitic diseases that are treatable play a leading role in the occurrence of this pathology among residents of developing regions. In developed countries, the number of blindness cases increases each year due to age-related degenerative changes in the macula and diabetic retinopathy.

Causes of blindness

Understanding the causes of blindness is crucial, with diverse factors such as genetic mutations and age-related degeneration contributing to vision loss. Global blindness cases are primarily attributed to eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, uncorrected refractive errors, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy. However, having these issues doesn’t necessarily imply impending blindness, as treatments exist for each condition, albeit with varying levels of effectiveness.

Cataracts, common among those aged 50 and above, involve a cloudy area forming in the eye’s lens, causing blurry vision and color perception issues. Prolonged presence can lead to vision loss, but cataract surgery is a safe and effective solution.
Refractive errors, affecting over 150 million Americans, hinder clear vision by impacting how light focuses on the retina. Types like myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia can be corrected with personalized glasses, contact lenses, or refractive laser surgery. The global impact of uncorrected refractive errors underscores the importance of timely intervention and early detection for enhanced visual health.
Macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision impairment for Americans aged 50 and older, affects over 10 million people, with 2.2 million facing advanced cases. In its “dry” form, characterized by drusen deposits, the macula undergoes desiccation, while the more severe “wet” variant sees abnormal blood vessel growth, leading to fluid leakage. Though it may not induce complete blindness, AMD can result in central vision loss, emphasizing the importance of regular eye exams for early detection.
Glaucoma, a group of eye diseases, can lead to blindness if unchecked. Impairment of the optic nerve, often subtle in symptoms, requires a comprehensive eye exam for diagnosis. While no definitive cure exists, early intervention can halt damage, particularly in open-angle glaucoma, the most prevalent type in the U.S.
Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes, stands as the leading cause of blindness among American adults. Progressing through stages like mild, moderate, severe nonproliferative, and proliferative, it impacts both eyes. Vigilant management, maintaining optimal blood sugar levels, and early detection through regular eye exams are crucial for reducing the risk of vision loss. Treatment options include injections, laser treatments, and surgery.

Do blind people have better hearing?

A recent study in the journal Psychological Science has made us rethink how we understand hearing and space. It turns out, being able to see might not be as important for figuring out where sounds are coming from as we once thought. In fact, the study suggests that people who have been blind from birth or a very young age could be even better at pinpointing the location of sounds than those who can see.

The researchers looked at two groups of people: 17 who have been blind since they were very young and 17 who can see, making sure they were of similar ages and genders. They tested how well these individuals could tell where sounds were coming from. Surprisingly, the blind participants were often more accurate, no matter where the sound was placed.

What’s more, blind participants were equally good at telling if a sound was in front of or behind them, unlike their sighted counterparts who were better with sounds in front. This suggests that blind individuals rely more on their hearing to understand their surroundings.

Another set of research from the University of Washington, featured in both the Journal of Neuroscience and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, delves deeper into this enhanced hearing in blind individuals. Through brain scans, the studies found that blind people have a sharper sense of hearing, particularly for small differences in sound pitch. They also discovered that a part of the brain usually involved in tracking visual movement is instead used to track sounds in those who are blind. This shows how adaptable our brains are, particularly in how they can develop heightened hearing abilities in the absence of sight. Even people who were blind but later regained their vision retain these brain changes, indicating these adaptations occur early and are long-lasting.

Do blind people have better smelling?

Mathilde Beaulieu-Lefebvre, a grad student at the Université de Montréal’s Psychology Department, led a study that makes us rethink if blind people really have a stronger sense of smell than those who can see. It turns out, being blind might just make people more aware of the smells around them, rather than actually boosting their sense of smell.

The study explains that when you walk into a room and smell coffee, you probably look around for the coffee maker. But for someone who’s blind, that smell of coffee is all they have to go by to figure out what’s in the room. So, smells become a big deal for them, not because they smell better, but because they rely on them more.

The research included 25 people, with 11 being blind from birth. They had to go through a couple of tests to see how well they could tell different smells apart, like distinguishing between 16 scents and identifying smells like rose, vanilla, and a sweet kind of alcohol using special equipment.

Maurice Ptito, a professor at the Université de Montréal’s School of Optometry and Beaulieu-Lefebvre’s advisor, pointed out that the idea of blind people having a super-smell isn’t true. But the study did show that blind people put in more effort when it comes to smelling.

The researchers found out that blind people’s brains work a bit differently when they smell things. They use a part of their brain that’s usually for smelling, plus another part that’s normally for seeing. This shows that their brains adapt to use what they have in a different way.

This study could help come up with new ways to help blind people get around better. For example, since different places like hair salons, pharmacies, and clothes stores have their own unique smells, these could be used to help blind people find their way in places like shopping centers.

Understanding Hearing of Blind People

There are countless reasons why someone might lose their sight, from health conditions to accidents. The world doesn’t become less vibrant or less full of wonder for those who navigate it without sight. Instead, their other senses—touch, hearing, taste, and smell—become their eyes, painting the world in a mosaic of sounds, textures, flavors, and aromas. These senses weave together a tapestry of experiences, allowing for a rich, full life that’s just as nuanced and beautiful, albeit experienced differently. This resilience is a reminder of our innate capacity to adapt and find joy, no matter our circumstances. It’s a celebration of the human ability to not just endure but to thrive, using whatever senses we have to connect with the world around us and the people we love.

Is the sense of smell stronger in blind people?

A recent study by the University of Montreal suggests that blind people don’t necessarily have a sharper sense of smell than those who can see. Instead, losing vision might make blind individuals more focused on the smells around them, according to the researchers. For example, when you walk into a room where coffee is brewing, you might look around for the coffee maker.

Can blind people’s other senses improve?

The study indicates that blind people might form unique connections in their brains that aren’t found in people who can see. This could lead to better abilities in non-visual senses, like hearing, smelling, and touching, as well as in mental skills like memory and language.

Do blind people have a “sixth sense”?

There’s a myth that blind individuals possess a sixth sense or extraordinary abilities. However, it’s more about hard work and developing a strong memory that helps people who are blind navigate their environment effectively. The idea of a “sixth sense” is more poetic than based on factual evidence.