In a new study published in PLOS One, scientists trained people to navigate in space by listening to echoes from clicks emitted by language.
Echolocation is the ability to use reflected sound to obtain information about the surrounding world . It is well known that it is developed in bats. However, many cases have been described of how blind people developed this ability in themselves in order to better navigate in space.
Previously, in experiments, people used different methods of echolocation. In the new study, participants clicked their tongues and listened to the reflected sound. Previously, this echolocation technique helped people determine the distance, the shape of sound-reflecting objects, and the location of some of them in space by the nature of the echo. The authors wanted to know how sight or lack thereof affects the ability to develop echolocation and how this skill helps blind people in everyday life.
The study involved 14 sighted and 12 blind from birth people aged 21-79 years. All of them underwent 20 echolocation training sessions in the laboratory for 10 weeks, which lasted 2-3 hours. The blind participants were then followed up for 3 months to assess whether their ability to navigate had changed.
Both blind and sighted people learned echolocation to about the same extent during the lesson. During the follow-up, all blind participants reported that it became easier for them to move around, and 83% said that their independence increased after that, and their psychological state improved.
Scientists have concluded that the ability to echolocate using clicks does not depend on whether a person sees or not, and also that it is suitable for the rehabilitation of the blind and people with early stages conditions leading to loss of vision.
“We are very pleased with the results and believe that it makes sense to present click echolocation information and training to people who can still see normally but who may lose their vision in the future in links with degenerative eye diseases,” said Lore Thaler of Durham University, co-author of the study.
Currently, there is no echolocation in the rehabilitation programs for blind and visually impaired people. Experts note that not all people may want to resort to it, as many may find it uncomfortable to make clicking sounds in public places.