It's a skill most people can learn. With enough practice you can judge distances based on sound. When I was young my parents had a smooth railing with posts th

It's a skill most people can learn. With enough practice you can judge distances based on sound. When I was young my parents had a smooth railing with posts that stuck up above it. I used to slide my head on my arms along it with my eyes closed. I could hear when the post would get close and stop. I don't know the maximum distance humans can detect by sound but it's pretty easy for short distances.