#folks with auditory processing issues and sensory processing issues in general

[lilalilan]

If you use curse words or other "inappropriate" words in your tiktoks and use a different word in your captions, you're discriminating against disabled people. By this I mean things like people captioning "motherfucker" as "motherfluffer" instead of like "motherf*cker" or something.

If someone can't hear the tiktok, and the captions aren't accurate, then the viewer has no way to know what's actually being said in the video. If you sensor the word instead of full on replacing it, then at least people can know what's actually being said.

Disabled people deserve access to the exact same content in a form that's accessible to them, whenever possible. Captions should be as accurate as possible, and if the platform you're on doesn't let you do that, that's an issue.

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

So I (finally!) bought a pair of really good noise cancelling headphones, and it has changed my life! It's the fanciest thing I've bought in years, so to recoup some of the cost, I’ve researched & written a little essay based on my experiences with extreme noise sensitivity.

Hypersensitivity to sound is something I’ve dealt with all of my life, but I only recently found out it's medically known a Hyperacusis. (Please note this is a separate condition from Misophonia.) If you consistently struggle to cope with noise, the info below could be helpful! I’m including a link to my ko-fi, and I will be answering questions in the notes.

(skip to the bottom to read fun facts about my tax return and/or street organs vendettas!)

DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional, this is based solely on my experiences as a patient, and on what I have read and been told by professionals. Please notify me if you have corrections or concerns about accuracy!

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity to sound is a common type of sensory issue. While anyone can experience such issues (most people, for example, might be bothered by loud music in a crowded restaurant), some people are more sensitive than others, to the point it becomes a quality-of-life aka a medical issue.

If you consistently struggle with environmental stimuli that other people aren’t bothered by (background noises, bright lights, certain textures and tastes, etc), to the point it causes daily discomfort or limits the environments you can be in, I recommend reading about Sensory Processing Disorder.

SPD and sound sensitivity are both super common in autistic folks (like me!), but allistic (non-autistic) people can experience them too. Weep, ye prisoners of mortal coil, for none are safe, nothing sacred, not in this thy most accursed tomb of human flesh!

Anyway.

SOUND SENSITIVITY or HYPERACUSIS: Noise issues are particularly difficult to navigate in a world that is increasingly...noisy. The relatively new phenomenon of constant overhead music in restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls etc—all of this means that public spaces are increasingly inaccessible to people with auditory issues.*

As a kid, nothing quite triggered sensory overload/meltdowns for me like the constant exposure to noise I couldn’t control—the background chatter of other kids in the lunchroom, the constant noise in public spaces, being trapped in the car with the radio on.... I had so many fights with my siblings about the car radio, and who got to choose the music.**

But it’s not just loud sounds that are the problem. As an adult who lives alone and works from home***, I’m lucky enough to be able to avoid loud environments most of the time. This does wonders for my general levels of anxiety and discomfort. But even in a mostly controlled environment, I still experience problems. Because part of sound sensitivity is that even normal or quiet sounds can feel loud and intrusive. Here are some “normal” sounds that can cause me discomfort (ranging from annoyance to outright pain, depending on the day):

refrigerator/AC/ceiling lights humming

dishwasher/washing machine noises

ceiling fan making that damn ceiling fan noise

faint sounds of traffic

riding in a car

other people having a normal conversation in the background

someone talking to me in a perfectly normal inside voice

Unfortunately, even in a “controlled” environment, many triggering noises can’t be controlled. And many parts of life can’t be lived in a controlled environment. This presents...some incredibly freaking annoying problems. Luckily there are solutions!

Sorta.

There are sorta some solutions.

They are imperfect, but they help.

TREATMENT: And now I have something rather shame-faced to admit. In all the years of managing my symptoms, it never once occurred to me to see a hearing specialist for my issues with sound. I wasn’t even aware that treatment options exist, because none of my other doctors mentioned it. Instead, I’ve spent years finding my own coping mechanisms and tools, with help from therapists and psychiatrists, but without ever consulting an audiologist/ENT. It was only while researching this post that I found out that was even an option, holy shit.

So it turns out I am going to be making an appointment with my local ENT practice. shit.

Apparently treatment options include sound/acoustic therapy, systematic desensitization/exposure therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, sound machines, and other options that I had no idea even existed, goddammit.

MANAGEMENT: In the meantime, here are my current coping mechanisms. I’ve relied rather heavily on hearing protection, which is very useful when used in moderation. Unfortunately, it can cause its own problems: it’s important not to overuse hearing protection, because in the long-term this can increase your sensitivity. So again: a useful tool, but be careful not to overdo it.

With that in mind, here are some of the coping strategies I’ve used over the last decade to manage my symptoms. This is not a perfect system and you should contact your local ENT clinic for better, long-term solutions, but in the meantime here are some tips I use to just get myself through the damn day:

Regularly spending time in a quiet controlled environment, to allow my nervous system to decompress.

Wearing earplugs, (I use two different grade, depending on the level of noise prevention I need), and always carrying an extra pair in case I need them unexpectedly. I bought a 50 pack for $7 and put spares in all my bags and jacket pockets.

(I mostly use Mack’s Ultra Soft, but there are so many types and materials and brands, including foam, silicone, wax, custom moldable etc. Even if you have trouble wearing things in your ears, you might be able to find something comfortable.)

Similarly: hearing protection earmuffs, the kind used in gun ranges and on construction sites. I bought mine online for $10. they look like normal wireless headphones, so I've never gotten comments when wearing mine in public (other than “cool heaphones” bc i added skull glitter stickers).

Sometimes I wear the earmuffs on top of earplugs, when life is just too damn LOUD.

Listening to music w/ earbuds or headphones is a great way to balance out background noises, especially if you can find soothing playlists that help you concentrate. Also useful to put in just one earbud when you need to pay attention in class/at work.

Pro tip: if your hair is long enough you can wear wireless earbuds without anyone knowing.

White noise, rain noises, ocean noises etc can be helpful! Some people like whale songs although personally this activates my primal fear response

Active noise cancelling headphones: the reason I wrote this post to begin with—I finally bought a pair! As in, a really good pair! As in, a depressingly expensive pair with noise cancelling technology that actually WORKS, holy shit. I probably need to wear them a little less at home (bc overprotection causes problems in the longterm) but they have absolutely transformed my ability to go out in public and i never ever want to take these suckers off again please take a power screwdriver and nail these to my head, bury me in the sweet sweet shroud of silence. holy canoli and cream puffs I want to marry form a civil partnership with these headphones. Plus they have a bunch of features, like being able to control the level of noise cancellation, so I can hold a conversation or be aware of some ambient noise for safety reasons.

Oh, and also they play music I guess?

Sorry sorry I promise this post wasn’t supposed to be me shilling for Big Electronics. I’m just excited, I’m an excited flabby little ball of expired flubber. ANC headphones aren’t a perfect solution, and I still sometimes wear earplugs underneath, and I will always be uncomfortable some of the time, but for me it’s been a big step.

Unfortunately the cost of good quality ANC technology means this isn’t an option for everyone, and the (much cheaper) gunshot protection earmuffs I mentioned earlier still provide an impressive amount of protection and bang-for-your buck (maybe even an equal amount of protection, if you can find ones that fit well). But if noise consistently prevents you from enjoying public space and life in general, and you’ve already tried earmuffs & earplugs and find they don’t offer enough comfort/convenience/protection, and if you’re in a position to save up for a one time non-necessity purchase of $150+, noise cancelling headphones are an option to be aware of. (Please always check the return policy so you can try before you buy. I ended up buying and returning 2 pairs before finding what worked best for me. And please look for a retailer that offers an extended warranty. You want those motherforkers to last).

There are cheaper options available, including some under $50. The ones I tried didn't work as well as my hearing protection earmuffs, but some people report good experiences, so that is something to consider. it's always good to know your options! Passive noise canceling is another affordable alternative.

Medication: A final tool in my toolbox, which for me personally has helped as much as every other method combined. Like, a lot, it’s helped a lot. It turns out some anti-anxiety medications can also help sensory issues. There’s not much research on this, and I only discovered it firsthand when a medication my doctor prescribed for anxiety ended up significantly helping my sensory issues. I no longer need medication for anxiety, but my psychiatrist still prescribes that same medication off-label for my sensory stuff. Ask your psychiatrist to research your options (they will probably have to do some digging to find relevant research, but you deserve to know all your options, even the obscure ones). Fyi, the medication I use is in the benzodiazepines class, but there are other options for those concerned about dependency or side effects.

(I'm also told anti-anxiety supplements may be helpful, though I haven't tried this yet. If you're on prescription meds, always talk to your doctor about contraindications before taking anything over-the-counter.)

So there you have it, my main coping strategies for sound sensitivity! They are not a replacement for medical treatment (except that last one which is in fact...medical treatment), but I find them helpful and I hope some of you will too! I’ve struggled for a long time, and I’m very pleased to have reached the point where I can just do things in public. Eating out in loud restaurants? I can do that now, and even enjoy it, holy shit! I can comfortably travel in cars for hours at a time, and walk around shopping malls and grocery stores with overhead music, and, and —and just exist. It is so so freeing, to feel like maybe, after everything, you are actually allowed to just exist in a world that wasn’t really designed for you.

Again, be careful not to overuse hearing protection—the goal is to allow you to be less uncomfortable and to function better, but if you find you are becoming more sensitive to noise, it is time to dial it back a notch. Or maybe consider listening to music (at a reasonable volume) to block out background noise instead.

*(This also includes people with hearing loss and related issues, btw. While that’s not my area of knowledge, I would welcome it if any of my HoH followers want to share their experiences.)

**A sign of sensory issues that parents often miss is when a child complains about music being too loud—but has no problem listening to their own music at high volume. This is because music that is already familiar to the listener (and that the listener enjoys) is much easier for the brain to process, since it knows what pattern of sounds to expect. Loud music that they get to control can be soothing for people with sound issues, especially when it blocks out background noise and sensations. This is why repetitively playing the same songs can be a helpful form of stimming.

***(working on this blog, actually. since it’s my only source of income, my 2020 income tax return literally lists my occupation as ‘Tumblr Blogger.’ Oddly, my parent didn’t feel this achievement was worth including in the holiday family newsletter.)

bonus fun fact: Charles Babbage aka “father of the computer” may have been autistic and hypersensitive to sound. He definitely had a huge problem with public noise pollution, and spent his later year waging a war on street musicians (and organ grinders in particular).

(bc like, yeah. screw organ grinders.)

Sometimes when I’m out in public and the overhead music is particularly unbearable, I’ll take a moment to look up to the sky and scream out: “HE TRIED TO WARN US! THE FATHER OF COMPUTERS TRIED TO WARN US!!! we should have listened, sweet heaven we should have listened!”

except i don’t scream it, i say it very quietly under my breath

(i have issues with noise)

so yeah that is my short essay. and here is the ko-fi goal

k ciao i gotta go pick out glitter stickers for my headphones

[grison-in-space]

that big “what the fuck is up with Matt Murdock’s senses” post I keep threatening to make

For context, my day job involves studying animal communication, where I am a PhD student in evolution/animal behavior. I don't work on organisms that use non-standard sensory modalities directly, but I'm very familiar with the adaptations that electroceptive and echolocatory systems (mostly in bats, that latter one) generally require.

I also spend an awful lot of time watching my cat Dent, who has been blind probably from birth and definitely since he was about ten weeks old. (We're not entirely sure whether he can see light or movement, and he definitely can't see anything else.) Dent therefore has access to certain sensory modalities that are more sensitive than vision (cats can hear much higher into the ultrasonic than humans and have a wider range of olfactory sensitivities) without actually having vision to rely on, and thinking about what it is that specific sensory modalities actually bring to the table in terms of function.

What I am not is a blind person, nor have I lived or worked closely with someone who is. This is therefore going to be a discussion that focuses pretty heavily on "okay, let's assume Matty really does have ears like a bat--how does that constrain what he can and cannot do?" and less on the actual functional issues for someone who is, you know, a blind human--although if folks have comments on that, I would absolutely fucking love to hear them.

TL, DR: radar isn't fucking magic, and neither is echolocation. And physics still matters when we get down into sensation, more than you might think.

One of the things you have to understand when you're trying to study sensation and perception is that different sensory modalities--sight, touch, hearing, proprioception/balance, echolocation, etc--are good for different things. We tend to intuitively understand this in humans, but when reading experiences of characters with very different sensory toolboxes I often find that people simply... assume that the "extra-sensitive" senses can more or less perfectly compensate for the loss of vision.

The thing is, different sensory modalities are good for different things. That's why different groups of animals develop specialties in different modalities in the way they do. Some of what evolution can do is constrained by phylogenetic history--mammals are always going to have a leg up on birds when it comes to hearing in high frequencies, for example, because of a quirk of the development of the mammalian jaw--but a lot comes down to the interaction between the world around a particular animal and the needs and ecological niche that the animal takes up. Species generally specialize and hone the sensory systems that they have available which are useful to the needs of the animal in question.

What I mean by this is that you have to understand that different sensory systems are really good at different things, and sometimes you need different levels of resolution for different tasks. You can think of sensory systems as having two kinds of resolution: temporal and spatial. Vision has, generally speaking, pretty fine temporal resolution--you get a continuous "picture" of things around you and where they are at any given time. Your spatial resolution, as anyone who wears glasses (me included!) can tell you, varies based on your individual eyes and level of focus.

There's one final distinction that is important to bring up with respect to choosing sensory modalities, and that is active versus passive sensation. You can define this by asking yourself: do you have to do anything to work this sense and pick up stimuli from the environment around you? If yes, we're active; if not, we're passive. Humans don't really have any equivalent active sensory modalities with the possible exception of touch, but because Matt is almost always depicted as having access to at least one (echolocation, "radar"), I'm going to talk a little bit about those here, too.

Why does resolution matter?

Well, when we talk about modalities compensating for each other as an individual navigates the world, resolution is what lets us adapt senses to do each other's jobs. Fine resolution isn't always the most useful range for a given sense, either: olfaction has very coarse temporal resolution and moderate spatial resolution in most species, and that means that you can use it to tell where things have been even if the thing creating the signal is no longer there. Echolocation has perhaps the finest possible temporal resolution in that it is not a continuous signal--more on that in a minute--and very, very fine spatial resolution, but only for the instant of a given vocalization. Vision has very tight temporal resolution and very tight spatial resolution, depending on the level of focus a given person has.

What's the deal with active versus passive sensation?

For one thing, that means that Matt should not be able to use either echolocation or "radar" unless he's actually producing some kind of signal. I keep putting "radar" in quotes because it's not used by any known biological system; the closest analogue is probably electroception, but electroception is prettyk much exclusively used and developed by aquatic or semi-aquatic animals and uses different ranges of electromagnetic waves to most human-built radar systems. That means that echolocation doesn't produce continuous information the same way that passive sensory systems (like vision!) do, which means that Matt has to string together a series of disconnected "impressions" of where things are in space and time to make a "picture" of the world around him, at least with respect to that sense.

Basically, the way these sensory systems work is that you produce a signal and you "listen" to the response patterns. This means that if you aren't producing that signal, you don't get anything. This is interesting and important in the context of Daredevil because Matt very specifically does not produce any vocalizations or noises that could be used for echolocation in the human range, and it's even less likely that he's continously emitting weak electric charges into his environment--the air just isn't a good enough conductor to give him any real distance.

So if he's doing this, he's doing it at either very high pitches, outside the usual human auditory range, or else at very low pitches--and high is much more likely. High-frequency vocalizations decay faster over space, which is why they don't carry well. Because of this, and because the pattern of reverberation and decay of the sound is what you're using to construct the idea of shape with echolocation, all known echolocating species use very high-frequency, very loud vocalizations to create pulses of sound that will decay in ways that are sensitive to the shape of whatever they're bouncing off of.

Personally, I like to imagine Matt squeaking at very high pitches like a real bat might, mostly because I think it's funny. This is particularly amusing because in many social species that rely very heavily on echolocation or electroception, individuals produce a signal that is unique to them within the local group--so it's the equivalent of Matt wandering around yelling MATT MATT MATT MATT whenever he wants to get a good sense of its position and shape without having to actually, you know, touch it. (This may or may not be a good way for Stick and Matt to get a sense for where each other are at a distance--if they're managing to make a super high-pitched vocalization, it probably doesn't carry too well. On the other hand, if they're fighting something as a team, as we see both of them doing, the odds are good that each is listening to the information that the other is getting if one or both is using whatever this sensory system is. )

If I'm going to take a more realistic tack on the whole thing, I'd guess he's probably vocalizing through his nose, which is pretty common in both human vocalizations (you don't need your mouth to be open to say nnnnn or mmmm, because those sounds are produced via reverberations through the nasal cavity) and also in many ultrasonic vocalizations specifically (for example, the ultrasonic communication that rodents often engage in).

(Humans who say they can use echolocation in real life rely on clicks and taps, which is why I think it's particularly interesting that Matt is consistently shown using his long cane a few inches above the ground. I don't think he ever uses it to tap the ground in the show, and he certainly isn't making a loud click noise with it. Both clicks and taps can work for echolocation because these are wide-frequency noises, so you still have the decay patterns of the higher frequencies to work off of if you can filter through the lower-frequency stuff muddying the waters. It's not very sophisticated and will only give you a comparatively broad sense of where things are, but it's certainly better than nothing. But whatever Matt is using, he's specifically not using that to navigate his world.

A friend who uses a long cane suggested dryly that this might be an attempt to avoid the common peril of getting one's cane stuck in a pothole and winding up taking your cane to the balls or the kidneys, which... given the general lack of maintenance of Hell's Kitchen in other venues of the show, I suspect this is a peril Matt has been negotiating for some time.)

So what is Matt likely to use?

Honestly, I'm pretty sure that Matt's most important sense day-to-day isn't echolocation. It's his proprioception--his sense of where he is in the world, his spatial memory and his sense of balance. I heavily suspect that he has an incredibly good spatial sense and ability to process spatial information, and I notice that his combat style is heavily geared towards blocking his opponents into a space and hitting them until they go down. (Matt spends a lot of time using space to his advantage in combat--when he's not stalking an opponent and bringing them down by surprise, he's either constantly blocking them in and grappling close in or he's using a narrow confine like a hallway or an alley to constrain his opponent's ability to move quickly. Because the ability to echolocate does require him to produce a sound and because I'm not aware of any way to produce sufficiently high-pitched sounds that doesn't involve forcing air through the larynx at some level, I would guess that he's actually primarily relying on passive listening to pick up cues about what is going on in his environment in the middle of combat. I'd gamble he's most likely to quickly use his active sense (whatever it is) to make a rough "sketch" of what's going on around him in moments of relative quiet, when he's not moving too quickly to control his breathing.

I like constraint in my headcanons, because it lets me plumb the unexpected boundaries of abilities, perceptions, and creates avenues for conflict and unexpected humor; if you don't--and the writers of Daredevil in all forms certainly don't seem to be particularly careful about this--seriously, by all means ignore me or pick out whatever you like and leave the rest. But hey, I had fun putting this fucker together. 

This post is crossposted at pillowfort and dreamwidth.

[siodymph]

Gonna rant a little under the cut :P Personal problems and mental health, that sort of thing

Like nothing serious is going on with me I don’t think, but I’m feeling this summer depression kinda building up. At first I thought it was just coming on with my menstrual cycle cause that happens to me usually but the negative-junk is lingering. Personally, I theorize that it maybe a culmination of feelings after staying a few days with my increasingly-racists grandparents alone, one of my friends visiting home (idk this one is weird it’s like 1/6 jealously tbh but 5/6 uncomfortableness cause she’ll kinda harp on me about school and finding a job and I know she cares but at the same time I always feel put-down after hanging out with her, even though I still consider her a dear friend), and general stress of transferring colleges and finding money to pay for school, all my cats having medical shit happening to them and whatever the fuck has been building up in my brain without a healthy outlet.

TBH It feels similar to the summer after a graduated high school, but that was like really really bad and this current feeling is more like a sorta demi-piece compared to that shitstorm three years ago.

Also sorta a weird thing but 3 years ago all of my malcontent was aimed directly at me. But this time around instead of thinking really negative of myself and envisioning not-cool things happening to me, it’s over-riding my day dreams. Like I’ll try envisioning something fun and fictional but then my brain sorta veers right suddenly and whatever protagonist im imagining goes through all of this horrible shit that usually ends with them being isolated and both mentally and physically unreachable by the fictional people they cared about. So it’s not me thinking about myself, but arguably it’s still me thinking about myself.

But even though it’s not as bad I’m still getting the feeling I should talk to someone professional about whats going on. But I still have some concerns about that cause I live with my family and am on all their insurance and paperwork. So if I wanna go talk to someone, I’m going to have to tell them first. Which I do not look forwards too at all. TBH we all got emotional-constipation issues and I hate bringing up my mental health and emotional state to anyone in my family. (At least things I don’t have diagnosed. My Sensory, Visual and Auditory processing disorders, that they’re fine with. But me bringing up depression or thoughts of violence I doubt will be as comfortable of a subject. Like I said, emotionally-constipated, also they really don’t like to see me as feeling like that since i’m always personified as the “happy-to-help”, “easy-going flower-child” daughter in my family.)

And if I go to one of my mom’s background doctors or therapists they will most likely have a christian/religious background and while that can be reassuring and strengthening for some people I don’t think it would help me in my current mental state. That and also I’m nervous about sharing my mental thoughts with a doctor and them misinterpreting that I am suicidal or self-harming or worse that I feel an urge to hurt others or anything else that could get me misdiagnosed or in some other trouble.

But I did read on here some folks suggested going to psychologists and therapists still in school training or who recently graduated as they will be closer in age and better empathize with fellow students and young adults trying to make it through life. And I know tumblr is tumblr but I might try looking into that as a viable option. 

So yeah I’m not as bad as I use to be, but every so often this summer I’ve been getting eerily similar waves-of-negative-thought which I do not care for at all. But nothing really bad and I think I’ll be ok. 

And i’m still trying to remember the good, like my buddy being home from the UK and another bud being home for the summer, and my rainbow-bat and monika cosplays and Metrocon later this summer, the science bros fan-week happening soon, and all the fics I wanna write and am working on! And the fact that i did get into USF and well be attending in the fall! So it’s not the end of the world, my mind’s just being weird and negative and I gotta keep an eye on that.

Ok I’m done ranting now lol

[hcafarp]

TBOYD - Simple or complex?

That is the question . . . . 

It will be possible to read 'The Benefit of Your Doubt' on different levels which I need to unpick to find my way forward. 

How many levels of engagement does this, or any piece need?

Option One - open engagement - not led by a linear intention

At a purely sensory level, this is an immersive installation that visitors can respond to emotionally. In a darkened room, a sizeable tank-like structure emits a soft light from its open top. Gentle lapping and dripping sounds fill the space. Beyond this, pin-pointed from different directions, can be heard indistinct whisperings in various languages. These drop in and out of the overall sound-scape blending and merging with the sound of the water.  Approaching and looking over the side into the tank, the visitor sees gently moving water at the bottom, which appears to be slowly rising and falling back. 

The immersive environment created is, at the same time, soothingly womb-like yet discomfiting and disconcerting. 

Whispering compels listening. We become quiet and focus on whispering because of profoundly ingrained survival instincts, as talking loudly with predators in the vicinity would be dangerous. Consequently, we devote more mental energy to listening to whispering. However, whispering also connotes intimacy in various ways. It forms part of our first sensory experience as babies and develops further in life as a widely used bonding mechanism, from the bandying of gossip and secrets to the 'sweet nothings' exchanged between lovers, whispering triggers the right hemisphere of the brain, the so-called emotional, intuitive side. It also triggers our Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) - the tingling (paresthesia) and psychophysiological response to rewarding auditory stimuli and the release of serotonin, oxytocin, and other similar stress-reducing substances.

The incomprehensibility of the content is intentional and relevant. Comprehension is not necessary; it is precisely this that creates the intended effect - a sense of dissonance, disassociation and disability, to hear a fellow human speaking but not know what is being said. That these voices are from across the globe is highly significant. That they are whispering is meaningful.

With no information regarding artist intention, no content or context and with little, if any,  sense of meaning gleaned from the whispering, how might the visitor begin to read or understand this piece?

The title, "The Benefit Of Your Doubt" gives an entry point. It is was developed from 'giving the benefit of the doubt', an aphorism used as a concession when a statement or person might be believed as accurate, but veracity cannot be proven. 

Can the piece, therefore, be assumed to be about truth, trust or fake news?

The only other information available would be the accompanying artist statement: 

"We rarely question conventions, received wisdom or examine our unconscious beliefs and biases.

Through my work, I attempt to establish conjecture, creating thoughtscapes with the materials, experiences and titles I present.

I explore existential identity: mine, yours, theirs and ours through conceptual text, video and relational installations." 

In theory, the piece as described above, with its title, and this statement should be enough for cognitive engagement, a search for meaning and interpretation to begin. Observations/interpretations might include:

truth, honesty, trust: an exploration of a post-truth world 

racism - questioning our ability to understand people from different cultures and backgrounds 

environmental: rising sea levels that will displace people in many countries

neo-liberalism - globalisation, the reach of capitalism

birth and rebirth, baptism

issues surrounding LGBTQ

issues surrounding disability, accessibility and inclusion

issues surrounding human trafficking 

. . . to mention but a few.

The installation realised at this aesthetic level only requires recordings in a variety of languages, the content of the whispering not being significant, and these can easily be appropriated from YouTube.

Option One will create an impactful piece that offers visitors extensive opportunities for interpretation with minimal control and direction coming through any conspicuous artist intention. This resonates with my statement - Through my work, I attempt to establish conjecture, creating thoughtscapes with the materials, experiences and titles I present.

Option Two - complex and directed interpretation

In this option, the 'whispering' recordings do have content. The piece being the same in all other respects.

I wrote an abstracted prose/poem as a response to the Post Truth era brought lately under particular scrutiny by the Dominic Cummings fiasco. Initially, the idea for the work arose from the phrase 'the naked truth' and a saying attributed to Democritus, "Of truth, we know nothing, for truth is in a well", which was interpreted in Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1896 painting The Truth Comes Out Of The Well To Shame Mankind. I used as 'plot' the Roman fable of The Truth and Falsehood and wrote a monologue as if spoken by Falsehood. 

The various recorded whispered performances would involve collaboration with participants from around the world, translating from English and reading/whispering my pre-prepared script in their first language in situ in their home countries. 

I sent a draft of this writing to Sarah Jane Crowson however, with no contextual information and no indication of references behind the prose poem. It was eye-opening and fascinating to receive her three readings. 

"I read this as having three key meanings. 

One is a straightforward narrative – the protagonist goes bathing with a lover/partner/sibling and, in the manner of a dark Shakespearean comedy they swap clothes/identities and our protagonist steals the others' identity, abandoning them naked in the bathing place. 

This narrative reading references Shakespeare's comedies, gender-bending, the ideas of clothes as cultural signifiers, reinforces the idea of nakedness as something which is culturally unacceptable, and hints at ideas of dualism in the good/bad twin, which evokes both modernist/classical philosophies and some folk myths (but generally re-told folk myths rather than the aural tradition).

In a second reading, the poet is writing about their psychological state and the piece is a presenting ideas of 'awakening' and 'knowledge' as a construct which causes the narrator to split psychologically (personified by the idea of the protagonist and their twin/lover). The poem explores of ideas of personal growth through the metaphor of an abandonment of an earlier self that is in some ways simple and innocent being left behind by the (potentially sold out to contemporary society and neo-liberal ideas) less virtuous and innocent self. There is a sense in 'looking so fine' that the message in this reading is that appearances can not only be deceiving but also treacherous, a 'sell-out'.

In the third reading the poem works on a meta-level, and is interrogating/critically examining ideas of the contemporary creative process. In this, it plays with the notion of 'authenticity' in creative practice, presenting the idea of the creative piece (including this poem) as a complex simulacrum of reality. 

In this reading, the narrator/s are personifications of different ideas of what makes effective creative practice. This is explored through narrative as the poem discusses ideas of self and representation (through referencing ideas of clothing, nakedness, classical 'virtues' and corruption). 

The piece shows frustration as the artist/creative becomes aware that they are stuck in a Mobius loop of their own invention, as they are dependent on a context with a specific value-system and understanding of cultural capital which requires them to strive for authenticity whilst being equally aware that the construct of the 'authentic' is ambiguous and relativistic – and  what is a personal 'authenticity' would also often be considered uncritical and naïve (naked) within the world's cultural context."

Without distinct contextual support, Sarah's readings bear little resemblance to the 'critical, creative investigation' she later describes the source of my ideas for the piece to be. 

Sarah's critique has brought me to a critical juncture both with this piece and my broader practice. I wrote a little on 'intention' in an early essay: https://hcafarp.tumblr.com/post/612217544979496960/art-acts-intentional-honesty

In the blog, I wrote: "The word 'intention' does indicate thought processes that would occur early on the evolutionary timeline of an artwork. Yet, as is the case for many artists, the primary intention is to make art: what that art speaks of and what it might be about is for others to say." 

Option Two adds a considerable layer of artist intention and would be a pointless undertaking unless this process is disclosed as part of the contextualisation of the work.

As mentioned, I have since supplied her with context, and she replied, "I LOVE the parable/story/myth you're using to underpin this, and doesn't it just go to show how far myth/folktale/narrative has such great legs when it comes to interpreting it in terms of our own contemporary contexts/understandings. Good to see a critical creative investigation of fake news too. Feeds into all kinds of things, including the complex algorithm and uncritical social media."

To realise Option Two, however, would require a discernable English rendition of the whispering to signal that the whisperings in other languages has the same content. It would also require written contextualisation - an explanation of the process.

This, unfortunately, conflicts with the intended effect of the incomprehensible whispering representing hidden truth.

Also, my experience in realising 'Unremebering' (a previous audio/visual piece utilising ASMR) as an art installation was that nobody in the room actually fathomed meaning from the whisperings despite the English language version being included. Feedback suggested they would like to have accessed written text. 

My uncertainty is not about the underpinning - after all, without the research and its various routes offering inspiration, the whole installation would not have evolved.  The question is: will revealing further information unduly influence interpretation, and will this detract from the sensorial and aesthetic impact of the piece? 

If my research and development and subsequent linear intention are made public, will it impinge upon or enhance the agency and freedom of visitors to arrive at their own interpretations?

The whisperings are intended to only be discerned as being in a different language - to hear somebody is speaking but not understand what they say. Does it not then defeat the object of the piece to disclose what they have all said?

When Mark Houghton cast in bronze a love letter from his grandfather to his grandmother that was patinated in off-white to look like the original envelope, he did not disclose background information. He presented the piece, detailed the materials used and offered its title "Testament."  From these three simple elements emerged an intricate and profoundly meaningful artwork. He created a piece that resonated with meaning without any of the above explanation. This information was later disclosed to me, adding poignancy to and empathy with his artistic response but possibly impeded the personal resonance I had previously experienced with the piece - ownership of the work remained with the artist.

I could exhibit Option Two with supplementary information in the form of gallery text or in book form, thus offering an optional level of engagement. Or, I could provide no further details in the gallery but include additional material on my website.

But why? What does this achieve? Is the piece in its pure form not sufficient? The linear intention is available to the visitor, without supplementary material, as one among many other possible interpretations. In her email reply, Sarah asserts, "Good to see a critical, creative investigation of fake news", but is a critical, creative investigation a fundamental, crucial or indispensable component of the piece? The research is still there, underlying and underpinning the installation, but is it integral or ancillary. 

It is my creative choice to include that research as an integral part of the work or separate it out as an interesting adjunct. 

For the purposes of my degree, the critical investigation is desirable. Undeniably, my ego would also be massaged by the recognition that the piece was predicated upon a thoroughly academic approach. The question becomes: does a displayed 'how clever I am' entangle, ambuscade, narrow or detract from the piece and restrict access to independently reached meaningful engagement?  

Does it add value or detract? 

I think it might be useful to explore how the piece ‘plays out’ and how this aligns with my objectives for this artwork and how I hope visitors might come to understand by it. 

it is immersive

it is atmospheric

it is performative

it evokes responses at an emotional level

it perplexes and disconcerts eliciting cognitive engagement

conclusions are reached

Who is my audience at this juncture?  Is this how I would wish them to engage with me? Do I want to narrow down audience to an academic or au fait Fine Art audience? If anything narrowing down the scope for interpretation by offering 'explanation' and further information is counter-intuitive to a Fine Art audience?  

As well as visitors interested in the arts yet having no connection to the college, my audience will predominantly consist of past and present students, tutors and staff, their friends and family, and also include artists and curators from outside institutions. A mixed audience with varying degrees of 'art appreciation'. 

Simple or complex - that is the question?

[ufa-thailand]

centuryhearingaids

A hearing Aids beneficial useful resource is a device designed to enhance hearing. hearing aids are generally classified as scientific gadgets in most nations, as well as regulated through the respective regulations. small audio amplifiers inclusive regarding PSAPs or other undeniable sound reinforcing structures cannot be marketed as "hearing aids". in advance gadgets, which usually include ear trumpets or perhaps ear horns, have been passive amplification cones made to acquire audio energy along with immediate it in for you to the ear canal. contemporary gadgets tend to be computerised electroacoustic structures that will hearing loss rework environmental audio to produce it extra intelligible as well as cozy, inside collection using audiometrical and cognitive guidelines. Such audio processing could become considerable, which include highlighting a new spatial place, shifting frequencies, cancelling noise and wind, or highlighting voice. modern-day hearing aids call for configuration to complement the actual hearing loss, bodily features, and also way of existence in the wearer. This method is actually referred to become able to as "fitting" and it is performed simply by method of audiologists. the particular amount of benefit the hearing aid could offer depends in enormous component in the superb involving its fitting. just with regards to all hearing aids in use inside the actual US are usually virtual hearing to be able to aids. gadgets significantly similar to hearing aids encompass your bone anchored hearing resource, as well as cochlear implant. Buy hearing Aids on the particular internet - we're happy a person found us! Buyhear is the main online outlet regarding discounted, brand-call hearing aids. nonetheless it is currently not really very best charge that individuals provide; we additionally supply market principal solutions for you to our 1000s of customers international. amongst these offerings may become the potential to remotely software program hearing in order to aids with your comfort, within the comfort involving your own home, together with the prospective to possess face-to-face interactions with our expert personnel (audio, video, and text#) pertaining to instances whilst it's beneficial for us to demonstrate that a person simply approach to cope with problems that will arise. And Also unlike some other online shops, we do that although lacking to become able to download big, proprietary producer software package on to your own windows pc or perhaps Mac* (sure, we certainly can do way flung changes via Macs!) The selection of ReSound hearing aid to be able to useful resource models could be really inclusive.There are usually models with regard to children, elders, h2o resistant or even invisible fashions regarding individuals whom decide on active and dynamic and also ReSound hearing for you to aids using Bluetooth as well as hearing aids tailored with regard to iPhone as well as Androids. On our web site you ought to buy high satisfactory ReSound models, permitted using the aid of numerous high-quality critiques made by using hearing healthcare specialists and experienced users, at affordable prices. once you buy ReSound hearing aids from us, you get hold of 1 hundred% nice whilst saving money. that's what we identify residing smart! Hearing loss, additionally referred to as hearing in order to impairment, is a partial or even general inability to always be able to hear. a deaf man or even woman provides little for you to simply no hearing to. hearing for you to loss can furthermore arise in a single or even both ears. Within youngsters hearing to become able to problems could affect the actual possible to discover out spoken language plus adults it could purpose perform related difficulties. In certain human beings, specially older people, hearing to always be able to loss can carry with regards to loneliness. hearing problems might end up being brief or everlasting. hearing to end up being able to loss could end up being because of your variety of involving factors, which usually includes: genetics, ageing, publicity to end up being able to noise, a range of infections, begin headaches, trauma for the ear, along with certain medicines as well as pollution. A New widespread circumstance which results inside hearing to always be able to loss is actually chronic ear infections. positive infections for your duration of pregnancy including syphilis as well as rubella may additionally motive hearing to loss. hearing difficulties is identified while hearing for you to screening finds that somebody will be not in a new position to listen to 25 decibels within as the absolute minimum one ear. checking out regarding bad hearing to always be able to is mandatory for almost all newborns. hearing in order to loss could be labeled as moderate, slight, moderate-intense, excessive, or perhaps profound. You will find 3 crucial kinds of hearing loss, conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing for you to loss, and combined hearing to end up being able to loss. 1/2 associated with hearing to loss is preventable. This kind of consists associated with by simply method of immunization, care about pregnancy, averting loud noise, as well as avoiding certain medicinal drugs. your arena fitness corporation recommends in which young human beings restrict the employment of non-public audio gamers to always be able to an hour as well as so an afternoon that allows you for you to definitely restrict publicity to noise. Early identity as well as assistance tend to be mainly critical inside youngsters. regarding lots hearing in order to aids, signal language, cochlear implants and subtitles tend to be beneficial. Lip analyzing is any other helpful skill several broaden. acquire entry to to hearing aids, but, can be constrained throughout a lot of aspects of your sector. hearing test to consider any examine Any entire hearing evaluation involves a number associated with different assessments as nicely. with a purpose for you to choose what type of hearing to end up being able to loss is actually gift, a new bone conduction hearing to test can be run. within this take a look at, the vibrating tuning fork is placed behind the ear, at the mastoid procedure. whilst your affected person could no longer feel/listen the particular vibration, the actual tuning fork is actually held facing your ear; the actual affected person ought to over again be effective at listen any ringing sound. whenever they can't, there might end up being conductive hearing to loss because ear. additionally, the tuning fork is actually positioned in the brow. The Actual patient will be then asked in the wedding the sound is localised inside the centre of the head or perhaps whether it's way louder either in ear. When there's conductive hearing loss, it's probable being louder inside your affected ear; if there is sensorineural hearing to loss, it is planning to be quieter inside the affected ear. This particular test facilitates your audiologist figure out if the actual hearing problems is conductive (because regarding issues within the outer or even middle ear) as well as sensorineural (resulting coming from issues within your cochlea, the particular sensory organ of hearing) or even neural - caused by a issue inside the actual auditory nerve or perhaps auditory pathways/cortex in the mind. phonak hearing aids can be considered certainly one of probably your most crucial hearing for you to beneficial useful resource producers inside your international. they certainly tend to be a Swiss enterprise that's a section of your the good deal big Sonova organization. These People had been production hearing for you to aids for much more than half of any century and gives his or her devices in more than 100 international spots round the actual world. even as these folks were once known for kid's hearing for you to aids, they've turn out to become acknowledged for extraordinary hearing to source technologies regarding all. Phonak tend to be rated as one of the first-class hearing resource producers around these days and also which they constantly perform to grow their generation an are living beforehand of the %. Within 2015 they launched their particular ultra-modern generation of hearing aid generation with the undertaking platform. this is their innovative new audio processing chip era which in turn replaced his or her previous Quest chip. That has led to a variety of of latest features along with binaural functionality in the public in their models. Miracle-Ear hearing to aid patterns consist of inside the again of-the-ear (BTE), receiver-in-canal (RIC), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), as well as absolutely-in-the-canal (CIC) gadgets. the Mirage, an invisible CIC (completely-in-the-canal) hearing for you to resource, utilizes microtechnology and consists of feedback cancellation, virtual noise discount, programmable settings, peak smoothing, as well as SoundBoost volume manage. Miracle-Ear's Aquavi model is actually water-proof, dustproof, and actually shockproof. An audiologist can end up being a fitness-care expert specializing in figuring out, diagnosing, treating as well as monitoring disorders with the auditory and also vestibular system quantities of the ear. Audiologists are generally educated in order to diagnose, manage and/or deal with hearing to, tinnitus, or stability troubles. they dispense, manage, along with rehabilitate hearing in order to aids and check candidacy with regard to as well as map cochlear implants. These People recommend family members thru a brand name name new prognosis involving hearing difficulties inside toddlers, and assist teach coping and repayment abilities to end up being able to late-deafened adults. additionally guide layout and put in to effect personal and business hearing safety programs, newborn hearing screening packages, university hearing to screening applications, and provide unique fitting ear plugs and also distinct hearing to safety devices to help save hearing loss. Audiologists are usually skilled to end up being able to assess peripheral vestibular problems originating through inner ear pathologies

[growing420]

Ataxia and Multiple Sclerosis

Ataxia is the term given to any number of abnormal movements that take place while doing some voluntary movement. It sounds simple enough.

I guess that whenever medical terms or definitions are involved things can get a little (if not a lot) complicated for most of us so, I’ll try to put it in layman’s terms.

Folks suffering from ataxia have problems coordinating muscle movements. Often, these problems manifest themselves in the legs but also in the arms, eyes and in muscles used in speech. Some of these involuntary movements result in you experiencing incoordination or interruption in your movements. Lots of MSers have experience this type of Ataxia when we under – or over – shoot something we intended or target with our hand, arm, leg or eye.

This missing of target is a type of Ataxia known as Dysmetria. Since my diagnosis, I started to experience Dysmetria of the hand. This can make your writing and picking things up difficult or even impossible.

Your cerebellum is the part of your brain in charge of synchronizing all voluntary muscle movement throughout your body, cerebellar ataxia is the result of lesions on the cerebellum or in the nerves that connect into it. Cerebellar ataxia can result in:

Uncoordinated walking – gait ataxia.

Inability to maintain a steady posture – hypotonia.

Shaking when attempting fine movements – intention tremor.

An inability to coordinate the muscles involved in speech – dysarthia

Jittery eye movements – nystagmus

If the damage is located in the spinal cord – in its posterior columns to be more exact – the type of Ataxia that occurs is known as sensory ataxia.

Whenever you experience not knowing exactly where your limbs (hands and feet) are, you are experiencing Sensory ataxia. Another manifestation of this type of Ataxia happens when you experience an unstable stance. Common problems seen by this type of Ataxia are:

Loss of position sense

Inability to detect vibrations

Unstable stance also known as Romberg’s sign

In multiple sclerosis, the last type of Ataxia is known as vestibular ataxia which is caused by lesions to the brainstem and the vestibular nuclei. Common problems seen by this type of Ataxia are:

Loss of Balance

Dizziness

Nausea and

Vomiting (vertigo)

Jittery eye movements – Nystagmus

I know now that I experienced this type of Ataxia when I had my first MS relapse. It came with a loss of balance, dizziness, vertigo and a little jittery of the eyes (nystagmus) besides the optic neuritis that never really went away.

Contrary to what most people think, Ataxia is not a direct result of muscle weakness (atrophy) but a dysfunction in the sensory nerve inputs or motor nerve outputs.

HOW COMMON IS ATAXIA AMONG MSers?

It is estimated that between 80 and 85% of MSers will experience ataxia or tremors at some point during their disease. Ataxia is quite a common symptom in Multiple Sclerosis but is also seen in other conditions such as:

1. Spinal cord compression

2. Diabetic polyneuropathy

3. Acute transverse myelitis

4. Vacuolar myelopathy

5. Tumor or cord compression and

6. Hereditary forms of ataxia

HOW IS ATAXIA TREATED IN MSers?

In order to help you manage these symptoms, several different treatments currently exist. They can be categorized by:

Physiotherapy

Neurosurgery

Oral medications – Some of them containing marijuana or cannabis extract, isoniazid or baclofen.

The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010 Issue 11, Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. concludes that there is not enough evidence to suggest that any treatment (drugs, physiotherapy or neurosurgery) provides sustained improvement in ataxia or tremors.

The one thing everybody seems to agree on is that more research is required.

Last but not least, along with the multiple problems caused by ataxia, you may experience tremors.

Tremors are rhythmic shaking movements of different amplitudes.

Whenever I stand in the same place for too long, I experience tremors in my right knee. These tremors are nothing serious and once I start moving they just vanish. While researching the subject I found out that tremors in MSers are mostly affecting the head, neck, vocal cords, trunk or limbs.

TIPS & EXERCISES FOR ATAXIA

In ataxia the person presents.

Incoordination

Tremor

Disturbances of posture

Balance and

Gait

Physiotherapy is directed at promoting postural stability, accuracy of limb movements, and functional balance and gait.

Postural stability can be improved by focusing on static control (holding) in a number of different weight bearing, antigravity postures (e.g. prone on elbow, sitting, quadruped, kneeling, plantigrade and standing). Progression through a series of postures is used to gradually increase postural demand by varying the base of support and raising the centre of mass and increasing the number of body segments (degree of freedom) that must be controlled. Specific exercise techniques designed to promote stability include:

Joint approximation applied through proximal joints (through shoulders or hips) or head or spine

Alternating isometrics (PNF)

Rhythmic stabilization (PNF)

Patient with significant ataxia may not be able to hold steady and may benefit from the technique of slow reversal- hold (PNF), progressing through decrements of range. The desired end point is steady mid range holding. Dynamic postural responses can be challenged by incorporating controlled mobility activities such as:

Weight shifting

Rocking

Moving in and out of postures or movement transitions

The patient should practice important functional movement transitions, such supine to sit, sit to stand and scooting.

Distal extremity movements can be superimposed on proximal stability to further challenge dynamic postural control. For example, resisted PNF Chop or lift patterns combined upper extremity movements with trunk movements (flexion rotation or extension with rotation).

An important goal of therapy is to promote safe and functional balance. Static balance control can be improved by using force platform training. The person with ataxia learns to reduce the postural sway (frequency and amplitude) and control centre of alignment position. The added biofeedback from visual and or auditory feedback display can improve control in some patients. Somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs can be varied, as appropriate, to assist in sensory compensation in sensory system less involved, for example:

Standing with eyes open to eyes closed

Standing on flat surface top a foam surface

Prolonged latencies (onset of responses) should be expected. Dynamic balance control can be initiated using self initiated movements (e.g. reaching, turning, bending). A movable surface can also be used. For example, sitting activities on Swiss ball are an excellent way to promote balance control.

Control of dysmetric limb movements can be promoted by PNF extremity patterns using light resistance to moderate force output and reciprocal actions of muscles for example: slow reversals, slow reversal- hold. Frenkel’s Exercises can be used to remediate the problems of dysmetria. The exercises are performed in supine, sitting and standing. Each activity should be performed slowly with the person using vision to guide correct the movement. The exercises require a high degree of mental concentration and effort.

For those patients with prerequisite abilities they may find helpful in regaining some control of ataxic movements through cognitive processes.

Ataxic movements have sometimes been helped by the application of light weights to provide additional proprioceptive loading and stabilize movements. The use of Velcro weight cuffs (wrist or ankle) or a weight belt or weight jacket can reduce dysmetric movements and tremors of the limbs and trunk.

The extra weights will also increase the energy expenditure, and must, therefore, be used cautiously in order not to bring about increased fatigue. Weighted canes or walkers can be used to reduce ataxic upper limb movements during ambulation.

For patient with significant tremor, this may mean the difference between assisted and independent ambulation. Elastic resistance bands can be used to provide resistance and reduce ataxic movements.

The pool is an important therapeutic medium to practice static and dynamic postural control in sitting and standing. Water provides graded resistance that slow down the person’s ataxic movement, while the buoyancy aids in upright balance.

Swimming and shallow water calisthenics have shown to be effective in improving strength, decreasing muscular fatigability and increasing endurance. Furthermore, the use of moderate or cool water temperature may help moderate spasticity. In general folks with ataxia do better in low stimulus environment that allows them to concentrate more fully on their movements. They benefit from augmented feedback (verbal cuing of knowledge of results, knowledge of performance, biofeedback) and repetition to improve motor learning.

Source by Alex Bermudez

from 420 Growing News http://www.growing420.net/2017/06/13/medical-marijuana-50/