While the ears were long considered as the only hearing device in humans, a new study shows that tactile sensations can also affect the sounds one hear.

Previous studies had reported that visual cues such as the speaker's facial gestures can interfere with how a person hears things. The new study, however, concludes that factors other than audio and visual clues also matters in the hearing process.

According to the study published in Nature, individuals integrate not only auditory and visual cues but also tactile sensory information when they hear a speech.

Inaudible puffs of air delivered along with certain sounds influence the individual's speech perception, the study found.

Scientists are optimistic that their findings will pave the way for the development of communication aids for the hearing impaired.

They added, "All we need is a pneumatic device that can produce air puffs aimed at the neck at the right times based on acoustic input into the hearing aid, and then a set of experiments to test the efficacy."

PKH/HGH