Bypassing Natural Selection
The hearing aid - a perfect example of how humans’ cultural adaptions have trumped natural selection.
As far back as the 13th century, those who needed help hearing used hollowed out animal horns. By 18th century, the aids, otherwise known as “ear trumpets”, were developed. They did not amplify sound, but did collect sound and funnel it through a tube to the ear. They did not work that well, but by 19th century, the telephone was created. For hearing aids, this meant new steps. In 1870, Thomas Edison invented a carbon transmitter which amplifies sound on the telephone. This later inspire carbon hearing aids. Eventually leading to vacuum tube aids, and then transistors in the 20th century, hearing aids have evolved to their current state as a life changing technological advancement.
Hearing is one of the five senses and is essential to everyday life. As someone without hearing or with a tremendous amount of loss, a typical daily routine can be filled with agony. Humans generally, seamlessly ease in and out of communication, enjoy their favorite music artists, and absorb the environments many sounds each time they step into the world. With hearing loss, one may miss telephone calls or find it difficult to follow a conversation which can cause feelings of isolation or worry. In addition, without sufficient hearing, life threatening or harmful situations are more likely to occur. For example, not hearing something or someone approach you like a car speeding or an attacker. Also, not being able to hear warnings like someone yelling “watch out!” or a fire alarm. Hearing allows one to be more cautious. With fight or flight someone first needs a signal that there is danger, and hearing can often signify that. Without this cultural adaption, a human with hearing loss would be increasingly more likely to face death. The hearing aid has bypassed the process of natural selection through improving the hearing of those who struggled to, in turn prolonging their lives which allows them more of a chance to procreate and pass down their genes.
