The interaural level difference is the disparity in the intensity of a sound wave as it arrives at each ear. A sound originating from an off-center location will be more intense at the closer ear because the head obstructs and attenuates the sound wave before it can reach the farther ear.

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There are two types of binaural cues:
1. Interaural Level Difference
2. Interaural Timing Difference 

Types of Binaural Cues

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Interaural Level Difference

The interaural timing difference refers to the small delay between the time a given sound wave arrives at one ear and the time it arrives at the other. This cue for sound localization arises because a sound from an off-center source must travel a slightly longer distance to reach the farther ear.

Interaural Timing Difference

Imagine you are standing in a field when a bird chirps directly to your left. Your brain is able to pinpoint the bird's location because the sound wave arrives at your left ear a fraction of a second before it reaches your right ear. This specific method of sound localization is an example of which auditory cue?

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