Auralism
Auralism is a sexual fetish defined as sexual arousal or excitement caused by sound. This sound might be music, thunder, a voice, moans and growls, the crack of a whip, or the actual sounds of sex itself. In some cases, sound is simply a small additional turn-on, while for others it is a requirement to achieve sexual gratification.
Some people have even argued that auralism can be understood as a form of queerness. Seeing sound and music as sexual turn-ons shifts the focus away from more typical visual fetishes and opens the door to pleasure that isn’t tied to the physical body.
Why People Are Into It
There are few statistics on how common auralism is, but the rise in the popularity of audio erotica suggests that it's hardly a rare interest. People tend to be in to auralism for one or more of the following reasons:
Sensory Focus
Closing the eyes or being in darkness shifts attention to hearing, making every sound more vivid - and sexy.
Imagination
Without visual cues, the brain fills in the gaps, which can make the experience more immersive and personal.
Control and Submission
In BDSM, sound can be used to command, tease, or deny pleasure, making it a tool for power play.
Personal Triggers
Certain sounds can become powerful turn-ons based on associations. People are unique, and just about anything can spark sexual feelings in the right context.
Ways to Play
People enjoy this fetish in a number of ways depending on which sounds get them going. Here are a few different ideas.
Listen to Audio Erotica or Porn
For people who like the sounds of sex or just listening to a sexy voice, audio erotic content can be fun and exciting. Some people also love ASMR for this!
Phone Sex
Call up a partner, masturbate together with headphones, and focus on breathing, moans, and voice.
Use Lube
For those who are into wet sounds, covering your body (not just the sensitive bits) with lots of lube can lead to more sexy noises.
Talk Dirty
Dirty talk can be a good way to get those sexy sounds in your (or your partner's) ears. Be sure to communicate about what you like (and don't like) to hear first!
Related Terms
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