Definition
An active listening state in which the listener not only registers the sounds and words being spoken but also understands their meaning, intent, and significance, allowing the information to be processed and acted upon correctly.
Plain English
Really taking in what someone is saying — not just hearing the words, but understanding what they actually mean.
Context Anchor
Used in aviation instruction when discussing how students listen to instructors, briefings, and spoken directions during training.
Derivation
From 'hearing' (the physical reception of sound) combined with 'comprehension' (Latin comprehendere, 'to grasp or take hold of'). The phrase emphasises that grasping the meaning is a separate step from simply receiving the sound.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents critical safety and procedural information from being missed or misinterpreted during briefings and debriefings.
Intuition Check
Do not assume hearing means understanding. In this training context, the important part is comprehension: the student can make sense of the message and use it correctly.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor paused after the briefing and asked the student to summarise the plan, checking for hearing with comprehension rather than simple recall.
Example Sentence 2
During the debrief the CFI checked for hearing with comprehension by asking the student to explain the lesson in their own words.