Back then, I could be listening to someone read me a list of numbers and typing them into a computer, while simultaneously listening to the MC read a different list of numbers that I had handed him previously to check that he hadn't missed anyone. 100% accuracy on the typing, probably 50-75% on the listening, but it was a pretty good backstop.
I'll say! That's definitely an ability I don't have. How long were those strings of numbers you'd be cross-checking?
If I had a short string of numbers to check from the MC (say 5) and his voice and the assistant's were dramatically different, then maybe, just maybe with a lot of caffeine I'd catch some errors. But I wouldn't bet the farm on my noticing them!
