Hearing vs. Listening: What’s the Difference?

Hearing and listening are often used interchangeably – because most people think they mean the same thing – but they have two very different meanings. Hearing is a natural sense that allows you to detect sound. Listening is when you make the effort to pay attention to someone’s words and sentences.

In other words, hearing is passive – it’s basically something that happens whether you want it to or not. But to really listen, you have to decide to pay attention. The distinctions between hearing and listening are significant.

Involuntary vs. Voluntary

The process of hearing is an involuntary act that detects any noise or vibrations in your environment, while listening is a voluntary act that requires you to make sense of the sounds you hear. For example, you may hear a co-worker talking on the phone in the office next to you but you’re not actually trying to listen to the conversation. If that same co-worker comes into your office later and asks you a question, you will listen to what he says so you can provide the best answer.

Continuous vs. Temporary

Another significant difference between hearing and listening is that hearing is continuous, while listening is temporary. It’s impossible to listen to what’s going on around you all day long – you’ll eventually tune out the noise and choose what to focus on. Hearing, however, is a natural act that is always happening, even when you’re not aware of it. To get more technical, the act of hearing is physiological, which means that it is a natural sense. Listening is a conscious act which makes it psychological.

Active vs. Passive

Listening is an active process – you have to engage in the act of listening. Hearing is a passive action that occurs naturally, even while we’re asleep. Hearing is an ability you’re born with, while listening is a learned skill that is developed over time with practice. You may not always be aware of the sounds you hear, but you’re always aware of the words you choose to listen to.

The distinction between these two words is more important than you may realize. Think about it: if you hear what someone says, but you don’t listen, you’re more likely to make a mistake or end up with a misunderstanding on your hands. The good news is that we can all practice listening and develop our skills.

The next time you catch yourself saying “I hear you,” maybe consider using other words to reassure the person that you’ve actually listened to what they’ve said. Hearing the message is rarely good enough, you have to pay attention and concentrate – or to put it simply – you have to listen.