But how much of that is echo location, as opposed to being aware of
your surroundings?
Would be good to get Steve's input, as he says he practises it.
CJ &AA MAY writes:
I was never even aware I was using echo location until it came into the
limelight a few years back when a tv company spotlighted a man in America
with exceptional echo location abilities.
The more I think about it, the more aware I become on how much I use it.
When working my dog I "sense" when the shoreline comes closer or further
away which helps me identify where I am in a busy shopping precinct and when
to give instructions for my dog to find the door I want;
In Marks & Spencers, for example, I walk through the clothing department but
can "sense" when the area opens up into the food hall and know when to
direct my dog off to the right to find the counters;
When alighting from a train at Deal, I walk along the platform and can
"sense" when I walk under the bridge and I know to turn my dog off to find
the steps to cross same. These are just a few of the examples of when I find
echo location helpful. But I don't possess it to the extent that the
American guy has (whose name I have forgotten) and clicking doesn't really
do much for me.
But I suspect that subconsciously this is why traditionally the blind man
taps his cane and I do know several blind men who like to wear metal tipped
shoes because of the sound they create.
However, it only has to be a windy day or for me to have an ear infection,
to which I am prone in the winter, and it all goes out of the window! I do
still go out but have to rely entirely on my dog and I find this really
stressful and there are nearly always little minor disasters.
Alison
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