Sound is all around us, enriching our lives in countless ways. Whether you’re listening to the beautiful songs of the birds on your morning walk, or to your favourite song on the radio, sound has a massive impact on our daily routines. Sky recently announced a brand new 3 part Tv series with David Attenbrough called ‘The Secret World of Sound’. Animal hearing and communication is hugely interesting, and it can really help to highlight the importance of looking after our own hearing. In this blog, we’ll explore the parallels between animal communication and human hearing care.
‘The Secret World of Sound’ by David Attenborough
This series offers a captivating glimpse into how animals communicate with each other. The series looks into all forms of animal communication, whether that’s from within the egg or in the real world warning each other of predators. The series has been filmed in 360 dolby Atmos sound, meaning that you can fully immerse yourself in the animal sounds when watching, some of which you may have never heard before.
The three episodes all focus on different aspects of animal communication. The first episode focuses on survival and how animals communicate to hunt prey and defend themselves from enemies. For example, you’ll see how Kangaroos drum their feet to defend themselves from rattlesnakes. Episode 2 focuses on mating and how animals communicate to find a mate and warn off competition. Episode 3 heads back to the very start of an animal’s life, where they use their voice to make themselves present and also to survive. The series gives a fascinating insight into how animals communicate, which in some ways could relate to our own ways of communication.
Animals rely on sound not only to communicate with each other, but also as a lifeline for them. They can communicate with others to warn about predators, establish territories, locate prey and to survive within their environments. Their hearing helps to navigate their surroundings, and therefore make important decisions too.
Their communication is made up of an astonishing diversity of sounds, each tailored to suit the unique needs and environments of different species. Whether it’s the intricate songs of birds used to attract mates or the loud roars of lions asserting dominance, every sound carries meaning, revealing the hidden dynamics of the natural world.
Did you know, despite popular belief, elephants actually use their big ears to help them cool down in high heats. They actually hear through their feet! They rely on vibrations in the ground, which their feet detect, to help them hear and detect prey from as far as 20 miles away!
Animal hearing vs human hearing
Animal hearing is very intricate and allows them to hear frequencies beyond the human range. Humans can typically hear between 20Hz to 20,000Hz, while dogs can hear up to 40,000 Hz and sometimes higher. Each species’ hearing is adapted to better suit their environmental and survival needs. For example, dolphins communicate through echolocation, a series of high-frequency clicks that bounce off objects within their environment. This allows them to navigate their environment, locate and detect prey, and communicate with other dolphins.
Animals can have much more sensitive hearing than humans too, which allows them to detect faint sounds over long distances. Cats and dogs have highly sensitive hearing, which can help them to detect prey, be aware of their surroundings, and to communicate.
Hearing Care Academy Event at Colchester Zoo
Last year, we hosted a FREE hearing event at Colchester Zoo. We teamed up with the education team to present a masterclass on animal hearing. The lovely Jemma gave an engaging masterclass on how various animals around the Zoo Hear, and gave us an interesting glimpse into her time at University in Madagascar where she investigated the hearing and communication of Indri Lemurs. It was great to see so many of our customers attend this talk, and hear the positive feedback from it. If you’d like to watch this talk, you can do so by visiting and following our Facebook page.
As we explore the remarkable world of animal communication and hearing, we’re reminded of the importance of caring for our own hearing health. Just as animals rely on their hearing for survival, our hearing has a huge impact on our lives. Maintaining optimal hearing health enhances our quality of life and helps us feel more connected to the world around us.
If you have noticed a change in your hearing, please don’t suffer in silence. Let our family care for your family. Try our online hearing test or book a consultation with our audiologists, who are here to help you every step of the way.
