Explore Common Sounds through Listening
Explore Common Sounds through Listening
Children using listening devices (hearing aids, implants) can discover more about their world by noticing common sounds and knowing what they represent. The wind blowing, a baby babbling, a cat meowing or police officer’s whistle are examples of every day sounds to be aware of and understand what they might signify. Families can use this list of sound examples to encourage children’s interest in their auditory environment and help them develop listening skills.
Indoor sounds
vacuum cleaner
garbage disposal
pencil sharpener
doors closing, banging,
doorbell
pots and pans
timer
alarm clock
clock’s chimes or cuckoo
object being dropped
something shattering
furnace
stove fan
chair being moved away from table
fire going in fireplace
TV
music
electric mixer
hair dryer
smoke alarm
telephone
knock at the door
background music in store
Some softer sounds
dishes being put away
paper being crumpled
refrigerator
water running
coffee percolating
liquids being poured
toast being scraped
click of light switch
match being struck
hum of fluorescent light
radio playing in another room
pages being turned
trash compactor
coins or keys clinking
traffic outside closed window
wind blowing outside window
sewing machine
pot bubbling on stove
liquid being shaken in container
drawer being closed
fly buzzing
ceiling fan
air conditioner
Human noises
laughing
sneezing
coughing
clearing throat
blowing nose
yawning
crying
snoring
clapping
whistling
humming
hiccupping
brushing teeth
washing hands
taking a shower
burping
zipping up a jacket
sipping through a straw
kissing
people talking in another room
running
chewing crunchy foods
Walking on squeaky floors
Indoor Activities
Making salad: cutting, tearing ingredients; spoon hitting bowl when tossing
Washing dishes: water running; disposal; dropping utensils into sink or dishpan, dishwasher
Making popcorn: shaking popcorn in box; shaking popcorn; popping
Setting the table: placing eating utensils; pouring water or milk
Making cookies: cracking eggs, beating mixture, scraping bowl
Making instant pudding: opening outer and inner packages, beating mixture, scraping bowl
Making toast and jelly: toaster; cutting toast
Sweeping the floor: swish of broom; dropping broom
Wrapping a package: paper crinkling; scissors cutting
Putting away tools: hammer, saw, drill, file
Putting away toys
Musical instruments
drum
horn
tambourine
stringed instruments
bells
toy piano
xylophone
musical mobiles
(Sounds with household items)
Noisemaking Toys
blocks
whistles
rattles
squeaky toys
clicking toys
chalk on chalkboard
carpenter’s bench
Outdoor noises
thunder
fire engine
foghorn
airplane
truck
train’s rumble
train’s whistle
bus stopping
car horn
car coming into driveway
walking through dry leaves
leaves being raked
branch rubbing house in breeze
rainstorm
hail
wind howling
Bat or racket hitting balls
motorboat
surf
bonfire
Wind chimestrash truck
Quiet outside noises
footsteps on sidewalk
distant traffic
approaching car or bus
car horn on next street
key turning in lock
door being opened
wind in trees
constant rumble of city
distant train
dog barking down the street
children’s voices in a backyard
birds singing
Grass mower or leaf blower motors
laundry flapping on line
lawn sprinkler going
rain
Working noises
drilling
breaking wood
shoveling
trimming hedges or borders
sanding
hammering
mowing lawn
chopping wood
sawing
walking on the roof
Explore Common Sounds through Listening
Children using listening devices (hearing aids, implants) can discover more about their world by noticing common sounds and knowing what they represent. The wind blowing, a baby babbling, a cat meowing or police officer’s whistle are examples of every day sounds to be aware of and understand what they might signify. Families can use this list of sound examples to encourage children’s interest in their auditory environment and help them develop listening skills.
Indoor sounds
vacuum cleaner
garbage disposal
pencil sharpener
doors closing, banging,
doorbell
pots and pans
timer
alarm clock
clock’s chimes or cuckoo
object being dropped
something shattering
furnace
stove fan
chair being moved away from table
fire going in fireplace
TV
music
electric mixer
hair dryer
smoke alarm
telephone
knock at the door
background music in store
Some softer sounds
dishes being put away
paper being crumpled
refrigerator
water running
coffee percolating
liquids being poured
toast being scraped
click of light switch
match being struck
hum of fluorescent light
radio playing in another room
pages being turned
trash compactor
coins or keys clinking
traffic outside closed window
wind blowing outside window
sewing machine
pot bubbling on stove
liquid being shaken in container
drawer being closed
fly buzzing
ceiling fan
air conditioner
Human noises
laughing
sneezing
coughing
clearing throat
blowing nose
yawning
crying
snoring
clapping
whistling
humming
hiccupping
brushing teeth
washing hands
taking a shower
burping
zipping up a jacket
sipping through a straw
kissing
people talking in another room
running
chewing crunchy foods
Walking on squeaky floors
Indoor Activities
Making salad: cutting, tearing ingredients; spoon hitting bowl when tossing
Washing dishes: water running; disposal; dropping utensils into sink or dishpan, dishwasher
Making popcorn: shaking popcorn in box; shaking popcorn; popping
Setting the table: placing eating utensils; pouring water or milk
Making cookies: cracking eggs, beating mixture, scraping bowl
Making instant pudding: opening outer and inner packages, beating mixture, scraping bowl
Making toast and jelly: toaster; cutting toast
Sweeping the floor: swish of broom; dropping broom
Wrapping a package: paper crinkling; scissors cutting
Putting away tools: hammer, saw, drill, file
Putting away toys
Musical instruments
drum
horn
tambourine
stringed instruments
bells
toy piano
xylophone
musical mobiles
(Sounds with household items)
Noisemaking Toys
blocks
whistles
rattles
squeaky toys
clicking toys
chalk on chalkboard
carpenter’s bench
Outdoor noises
thunder
fire engine
foghorn
airplane
truck
train’s rumble
train’s whistle
bus stopping
car horn
car coming into driveway
walking through dry leaves
leaves being raked
branch rubbing house in breeze
rainstorm
hail
wind howling
Bat or racket hitting balls
motorboat
surf
bonfire
Wind chimestrash truck
Quiet outside noises
footsteps on sidewalk
distant traffic
approaching car or bus
car horn on next street
key turning in lock
door being opened
wind in trees
constant rumble of city
distant train
dog barking down the street
children’s voices in a backyard
birds singing
Grass mower or leaf blower motors
laundry flapping on line
lawn sprinkler going
rain
Working noises
drilling
breaking wood
shoveling
trimming hedges or borders
sanding
hammering
mowing lawn
chopping wood
sawing
walking on the roof