In an advanced Sign Language course in college, we had to spend a day without sound (through the use of white-noise headphones, which washed out all other sounds). It was HARD. I'd never thought of certain ways in which I use my hearing without even realizing it. The obvious ones of doorbell/phone or baby/kettle I'd thought of, but I dropped my keys and never thought about the fact that usually I can hear them fall. Luckily someone ran after me with them (who knows how long they did, I didn't hear them yelling at me). I hadn't realized that while biking I rely on my hearing to tell me of traffic movements. In fact, I had a hard time keeping my balance, no idea why.

(Possible thread creep) I really like all the work being done with nonhuman animals - hearing ear dogs will bring you your keys; monkeys are being trained to do almost anything for paraplegics, and so on. No, I don't think of this as "anima exploitation" - ever seen how HAPPY a dog is that has just brought its owner their keys?

And Spaw, I have no clue how my younger son's mind works, and am looking forward to his being old enough to perhaps explain it. I do know that he is becoming more and more aware of his difference from his twin (who has no deficits and in fact, may have all of the other's missing coordination and processing abilities)... but they've started Kindergarten now, and are in different classes, so that ought to help. At least I hope so...