direkthörning

Direkthörning is a term used in acoustics and audiology to describe the direct auditory perception of a sound from its source, as opposed to indirect perception produced by reflections from surfaces in the environment. The concept emphasizes that sound reaches the ear via multiple paths; the direct path is the shortest route from source to listener, arriving first and typically dominating the perceived signal, especially in spaces with low to moderate reverberation. The relative strength of direct sound to the reverberant field is captured by the direct-to-reverberant ratio (DRR), a key parameter in room acoustics that correlates with speech intelligibility and spatial impression.

In practical terms, direkthörning matters for designing rooms, hearing devices, and acoustic measurements. Environments intended for clear communication—classrooms, lecture halls, meeting rooms—aim to maximize direct sound at the listener location, while controlling excessive reflections that degrade intelligibility. In hearing science, increasing the effective direct-path energy can improve speech understanding for hearing-impaired listeners; some hearing aids and assistive listening devices implement processing strategies that favor the direct sound.

The term appears in Swedish acoustics literature as a descriptive label for the direct listening condition, without implying a separate physiological mechanism. It should not be confused with bone conduction hearing or solely electronic amplification, which introduce additional pathways.