Which stage is referred to as sensing in the listening process?

In the listening process, the stage referred to as sensing involves the initial reception of sound waves, which directly corresponds to how we physically perceive auditory stimuli. This stage is crucial because it is the foundation upon which the rest of the listening process builds—without this initial sensing, comprehension or interpretation cannot occur. During this phase, the listener's ears capture the sound waves produced by the speaker, converting them into neural signals that can then be processed by the brain.

Understanding the role of the sensing stage is important as it emphasizes the physiological aspect of listening, which precedes cognitive functions such as understanding or summarizing the message. It essentially sets the stage for all subsequent stages in the listening process where interpretation and feedback will take place.