The Power of Perception
Stephen Nagler from the Alliance and Hearing Centre, Atlanta, Georgia U. S. A. presented a paper at the 7th International Tinnitus Seminar in Fremantle, Western Australia in March. Titled "The Key to Success in Tinnitus Therapy", it contained the following two wonderful analogies that demonstrate the importance of perception when learning to cope with tinnitus. You're travelling in a jam-packed subway car with hundreds of other commuters, hardly room to breathe. Some fellow starts repeatedly poking you in the back - very firmly - with the tip of an umbrella. What happens? Well, if you're normal, you would probably get angry. Your face would turn red, your pulse would go up, and your blood pressure would begin to rise. These are readily measurable physical changes, no psychology about it, right? So you turn around to tell this inconsiderate jerk to stop poking you with the umbrella. And upon turning around, you discover that it is not an umbrella at all; it's a gun! Again, palpable physical changes. All due exclusively to how you thing about the same stimulus - a poke in the back. So you reach into your pocket to give the crook your wallet. And when you look again, you discover that you are again mistaken; it's a blind lady inadvertently poking you with her cane as she tries to maintain her balance in the crowed train. The colour returns to your face. A shudder of compassion overcomes you, and your eyes may even become a bit moist, as you gently escort the lady to a safe spot in the train. Again, measurable physical changes brought about solely by your thoughts regarding same stimulus - a poke in the back. The Importance of Perception There was a travelling salesman making several stops during a cold winter. He is chilly, tired and hungry, but he has forgotten to make a motel reservation. He sees a motel by the side of the road - one level. Park right outside your room. Vacancy light flashing. The manager says that there is one room left, but unfortunately the steam radiator has a small crack in it; there is a consistent 'hssss' sound as steam escapes. The salesman is cold, tired and hungry and takes the room gratefully. He enters the room, notices the quiet 'hssss' sound and puts down his bags, eats a sandwich, brushes his teeth, takes a nice hot shower, puts on his pajamas, pulls back the fresh linen on the bed, crawls in and falls asleep. The next morning he awakes refreshed and goes on his way. Six weeks later, he finds himself in the same situation. Same town. Cold, tired, hungry. No reservation. He remembers the motel. The manager says 'I have one room left. It's the same room you had six weeks ago and I apologize; I have not yet the chance to fix the steam radiator'. The salesman say 'No problem. I slept just great six weeks ago. I'll take it'. As he is walking down towards the room, the manager yells to him 'Oh yes, one other thing. A couple of days ago a travelling circus came trough our small town here, and two cobras escaped from the snake charmer. They caught one of them right here - about twenty metres up the street. And they expect to catch the other one any time now. Thought you'd like to know. Have a good night's sleep'. The salesman enters his room. He hears it. 'Hssss, he looks carefully behind the curtain. Then he gets ready for that nice hot shower, but he slowly peeks into the shower before take .... a quick shower. He then gets ready for bed. He looks under the bed first. He pulls down those fresh sheets .... rather cautiously .... before he slides in .... somewhat tentatively. Do you think he sleeps? Not a wink! He tosses and turns all night, cannot wait to leave at daybreak, even before. As he leaves the motel, the manager see him. 'Hi. Glad I caught you. I got a phone call around 2am. An eighteen wheeler ran over the second cobra about two kilometres up the road. Just thought you'd like to know'. Six weeks ago. this 'hssss' of the cracked steam radiator was a meaningless neutral background sound, which quickly faded away and afforded the salesman a pleasant restful sleep. Now, the exact same sound - same frequency, same intensity, same character - was the most intrusive, most annoying sound imaginable - only because it had taken on a new meaning. But was it really louder? It certainly seemed so to the salesman - even though the reading on a decibel metre placed in the room would have been identical. And since people who are afflicted with (subjective) tinnitus are the people who can hear their tinnitus - perceived loudness is the only loudness that counts. Perceived loudness is a function of two variable - the magnitude of the signal and the meaning assigned to that signal. Article republished with permission from Ross McKeown, Tinnitus Association of Victoria. |
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