I do know a few people who are blind that can pick out, or 'home in on',
a conversation among several going on, that they wish to take part in.
I would say that their hearing is 'exceptionally keen'.  Mine is not.
It is eye-ear co-ordination, the ability to look directly at and
lip-read , and see facial contours and expressions, that give the
advantage to the sighted hearing.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sherry Wells" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 10:26 PM
Subject: Re: off topic


I have noticed this problem too.  I find that when in a group of people
in
a noisy place, I frequently cannot tell if a person is talking to me or
someone else.  I think it helps to be directly facing the person talking
to
you.  Sighted people have the advantage of turning toward the speaking
person whereas we are lucky to be looking in their general direction, at
least when the environment is noisy.    Perhaps it is not lip reading
that
gives the sighted the advantage in this situation but having the ears
positioned in the optimal position to maximize hearing. Just a thought.

Sherry Wells


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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
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http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html