Sound is what sets off the best memories—ahead of sight and even smell, according to a new poll.
Birds singing and waves crashing on the shore were among the top sounds most likely to trigger people’s fond memories.
A study of 2,000 adults, aged 50 and over, found four in 10 people experience sounds that prompt nostalgic thoughts a couple of times a week.
For some, rain on the windows, sheep bleating, and a train going down the tracks are enough to make them smile.
Other respondents said these sounds transport them to another place in another time, including trees blowing in the wind, a crackling fireplace, and church bells.
Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, which commissioned the survey, said, “Sound impacts most aspects of our lives, so it is no surprise that certain sounds trigger happy youthful memories.”
This is particularly true when it comes to sounds of the outdoors. These trigger memories of good times for 67 percent of adults. No wonder 78 percent of those polled said they tend to spend lots of time outside.
And of the 94 percent who have access to their own outdoor space, they’ll spend an average of five hours in it every week – with 72 percent referring to it as their ‘happy place’.
The kettle whistling, the radio playing, and cats purring also featured in the top 40 positively-triggering sounds, according to the over 50s. More than three quarters said that as they grow older, they treasure their happy memories more.
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However, more than half of respondents admitted their hearing has deteriorated with age, yet only 26 percent have had it checked by an audiologist.
A full 90% confessed they took their hearing for granted in their younger years, according to the survey, carried out through OnePoll. And 45% worry about their hearing getting worse, especially when being questioned about losing the ability to have some of these pleasurable memories triggered by the sounds around them.
TOP 40 MEMORY-TRIGGERING SOUNDS FOR THESE OVER 50s:
1. A specific song or piece of music
2. Waves crashing on the shore
3. Birdsong
4. A crackling fireplace
5. Walking on fresh snow
6. A waterfall
7. Cat purring
8. Trees blowing in the wind
9. Rain on the window pane
10. Rustling leaves
11. Church bells
12. Bees buzzing
13. A thunderstorm
14. Rain patter on leaves
15. Children playing outside
16. Lawns being mown
17. A fountain
18. The radio playing
19. Sheep baaing
20. Seagulls squawking
21. A train going over tracks
22. Cows mooing
23. A cork popping
24. Dinner being served up
25. Pouring a drink
26. Mail being delivered
27. Food cooking on the hob
28. Cicadas humming
29. Sports stadium/arena
30. The kettle boiling
31. An airplane flying overhead
32. A crowd cheering
33. Horses galloping
34. A beer bottle/tin being opened
35. Dog barking
36. Fish jumping out of water
37. Street entertainers
38. A toaster popping
39. A coffee grinder
40. A garden sprinkler
Do you have a different sound that puts you in your happy place?
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Stirring Mac and cheese
LOL. That DOES have a definite sound!
Somehow the metal bowls we feed our cats with sound just like the cowbell my grandparents had hanging from their front door as a kid. Every time I clink the bowls together, I think of their cabin. The kitties of course love that sound too, since it means it’s dinner time 🙂
Oh, I love this comment so much!! – geri
Crickets! Surprised that my encapsulation of summer sound didn’t make the list.