Making sense of sound is one of the hardest jobs we ask our brains to do. On Tuesday, October 18, Dr. Nina Kraus will examine the partnership of sound and brain, demonstrating that the processing of sound drives many of the brain’s core functions and leaves a fundamental imprint on who we are as human beings.
Our hearing brain interacts with what we know, with our emotions, with how we think, with our movements, and with our other senses. Hearing problems, whether in the form of decreased audibility overall or difficulty hearing noise in particular, are isolating. Kraus will explore the power of auditory training, playing music and learning a second language to strengthen the sound mind. After her lecture, Kraus will lead a discussion on hearing loss and the sound mind. Be prepared to tell her what you wish everyone knew about having hearing loss.
Nina Kraus is Hugh Knowles Professor of Communication Sciences, Neurobiology, and Otolaryngology at Northwestern University. As a biologist and amateur musician, she thinks about sound and brain health. Her research has found that our lives in sound, for better (musicians, bilinguals) and for worse (concussion, hearing loss, language disorders, noise), shape how our brain makes sense of the sounds we hear. Her book OF SOUND MIND – How our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World, was written for the intellectually curious. Kraus advocates for biologically informed choices in education, health, and society. See www.brainvolts.northwestern.edu
If you would like to join us for this captioned program, register here. After registering, you will receive an email with the Zoom link.
Can’t Hear? We are here for you!
The New York City Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America is a vibrant, diverse community dedicated to helping people with hearing loss lead more satisfying and productive lives. At the chapter’s monthly meetings, speakers address topics such as hearing aids and hearing-aid alternatives, assistive technology, interpersonal strategies, and advocacy initiatives. Those of you who are interested can find information about our organization on our chapter website by clicking here.
