| Description |
The visual and auditory systems work independently, in combination with each other, and with the remaining sensory systems to inform and guide the body’s internal and external actions. The auditory system provides the body access to sounds and vibrations from nature, voices (others and their own), instruments, machines and more; distinguishing differences in volume, timbre, rhythm, pitch, modulation and frequency. When focus is required, auditory reflexes instantaneously block out unnecessary sound frequencies, and when general auditory awareness is required, the auditory reflexes just as quickly expand sound frequency access to ensure the central nervous system is provided with all the information it needs to respond appropriately. The visual system distinguishes variations in shape, color, brightness, movement, helping to distinguish familiar people, places and things from unfamiliar, to determine relative location, and detect visual input important to daily function and general survival. Visual reflexes adjust instantaneously from static and dynamic visual input that is near or far, blocking out extraneous visual input when visual concentration and focus are required, while remaining vigilant to unusual visual input important to productive functioning and general safety. While the visual and auditory sensory systems each provide the body access to unique forms of stimulus input, they also work together to coordinate “seeing-hearing” information and in combination with the other sensory systems to inform and prioritize input for the central nervous system to guide and direct action in response to ever-changing conditions. Due to congenital issues or trauma (in utero, at birth or anytime after birth) the auditory and visual systems can become hypersensitive or hyposensitive as defined below, or simply not function; leading to a number of auditory and visual challenges.
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