The human body’s sensory system allows individuals to experience the world through sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. As life approaches its end, curiosity arises about how these senses function and eventually cease. Understanding sensory perception during the dying process offers insight into a complex biological phenomenon.
How Senses Decline
The dying process often involves a gradual shutdown of bodily functions, leading to a progressive decline in sensory perception. The body’s systems slow down as blood circulation diminishes, reducing oxygen supply to the brain and organs. This decrease in oxygen affects how well the brain processes sensory information.
Generally, the senses are believed to diminish in a certain order. Hunger and thirst are typically among the first sensations to fade as the body’s metabolic needs decrease. Taste and smell often follow, with individuals losing interest in food and finding it difficult to identify flavors or odors. Vision can also decline, with many people experiencing blurred vision, altered perceptions, or even hallucinations as death nears.
The Last Sense to Go
Among human senses, hearing is considered the last to cease functioning during the dying process. Even when a person becomes unresponsive, their brain may still respond to auditory stimuli. Research, including a University of British Columbia study published in Scientific Reports, supports this belief.
This study used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure electrical activity in the brains of conscious and unresponsive hospice patients, comparing their responses to sounds with healthy individuals. Findings indicated some dying patients exhibited similar brain responses to tones as the healthy control group, even hours from death.
This suggests auditory pathways and the brain’s ability to process sound remain active longer than other sensory systems. While the exact level of awareness remains uncertain, the brain’s response indicates persistent sound processing.
Why This Matters for Care
Understanding that hearing may be the last sense to go has important implications for end-of-life care and communication. This knowledge can comfort families and caregivers, encouraging continued verbal interaction with dying loved ones, even when unresponsive. Speaking gently, sharing memories, and expressing affection can potentially reach the individual, offering presence and connection in their final moments.
Care practices can adapt to preserved hearing, such as reducing distracting background noises and ensuring clear, calm communication. Maintaining a peaceful and reassuring environment, along with gentle touch, contributes to the dying person’s comfort. This approach acknowledges continued sensory experience, promoting dignity and compassion during the dying process.