#1 The power of sound – How art and science come together in acoustics and perception

The first cover of ENT & Audiology News features the left panel of a diptych. This artwork was not created by chance. It serves a purpose - solving a problem that exists in many spaces: poor acoustics.

The Board of Directors at Adelante noticed that meetings were becoming increasingly difficult. Voices blurred, conversations became exhausting. The culprit? An acoustic environment that demanded too much effort to follow discussions. Together with colleagues, I investigated how much improvement was needed. The result now hangs on the wall: a diptych, three meters wide and two meters high, designed to absorb sound and transform the space. But not just the wall - acoustic panels were also installed in the ceiling. The effect is immediate: less noise, less fatigue, more connection.

Conversations are now easier to follow. Meetings require less effort. And this space is not only used for executive meetings but also for theme-based sessions with our tinnitus groups. People with tinnitus and hearing loss now experience an environment where listening becomes easier. We apply this principle more broadly. Our sports halls within the Tinnitus Expertise Center are also equipped with acoustic solutions - not with art, but with large-scale photographs of the Limburg landscape. Because good acoustics are not a luxury; they are a necessity for communication and well-being.

Hearing is more than just the ears.

Hearing is one of the most fascinating and complex processes in the human body. It is not just the ear itself - with the incredible precision of the tiny ossicles and the intricate cochlea - that is a technical marvel, but even more impressive is what happens in the brain. Sound is more than just vibrations in the air; it is an experience shaped by perception, interpretation, and emotions. Our brain filters, selects, and assigns meaning to what we hear, allowing us not only to communicate but also to experience music, recognize voices, and even determine where a sound is coming from.

The upcoming artworks on the covers of ENT & Audiology News bring art and science together. They reveal that hearing is not just a biological process but a deeply human experience. This project bridges the precision of audiology with the power of art, creating greater awareness of how ingenious our hearing truly is. Art helps us grasp the complexity of hearing and the profound impact that sound - or its absence - can have on our lives. It makes tangible what words sometimes fail to express: the magic of hearing and the inseparable connection between sound and emotion. That is why this art exists.

These artworks are not random compositions. They are designed to absorb sound, transform spaces, and create silence where there was once noise. And they tell a story. A story of how science and art converge in the search for calm, understanding, and connection.

The first cover is only the beginning. In this series of blogs, I will take you on a journey through the power of art and science - not just in audiology but as a key to greater awareness. A world where we listen not only with our ears but also with our hearts.