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Glite Dictionary
auditory modality

auditory modality

5.6
The ability to hear sounds through the ears
  • noun
  • /ɔːˈdɪtəri mɒˈdælɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : modalidad auditiva
  • The auditory modality allows humans to enjoy music and understand spoken language.

Examples

  • Taking visual and auditory modalities, some people think predominantly in pictures, others process information verbally, and many use a mix of modalities, which include feelings.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Likewise, the auditory modality is a vital and significant window to the world.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Also, CHL, like CNH, could recite back longer strings of digits when presented in the auditory modality than when presented in the visual modality.

    Academic text (2012)

  • In learning environments, the auditory modality plays an essential role in how students absorb information.

  • Individuals with a strong auditory modality can easily remember and recite information they have heard.

Synonyms

hearing
vsauditory modality
192 1.0

The ability to notice sounds

is a broader capacity focusing on perceiving sound through the ears
sense of hearing
vsauditory modality
2 2.3

The ability to hear sounds

is framed as a technical capacity rather than a plain descriptive phrase
audition
vsauditory modality
  • Specialized
1 6.1

The ability to hear sounds

is a more general everyday label rather than a technical name
auditory sense
vsauditory modality
  • Specialized
1 3.7

To hear sounds with your ears

is specified as perception through the ears rather than general animal faculty

Surface Forms

auditory modality singular
auditory modalities plural

Morphology

auditory + modality

The meaning is directly compositional: 'auditory' = relating to hearing and 'modality' = a channel or manner of perception, so together they denote the hearing channel or faculty. This is a literal, technical but transparent combination (paralleled by 'visual modality', etc.), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Auditory modality comes from the parts auditory (about 'hearing') and modality (a 'way'). Imagine two ways to get information — seeing and hearing — and the auditory modality is the 'sound' way the brain uses, so it means the ability to hear.