I do not rule out the possibility that some people perceive things that other people do not. It doesn't necessarily mean they are crazy.
Exactly. If you could hear or see wavelengths others could not, be it seeing into infrared, or hearing extremely high pitches, others might think you odd at best when you said 'that's hot' or 'that bearing is going bad--Can't you hear that?'.
Only repeated success at perceptions that were useful (given the opportunity) would redeem you in the eyes of most skeptics, but it would be explained as a 'knack'. A local welder could armor oil tools with brazed on carbide. Oil tool companies tried to duplicate his technique and failed. He claimed the trick was in pre-heating the surface, and they tried to get all that right with pyrometers and IR thermometers and such. He just said if it looked right he'd start to apply the coating, if it didn't he'd have another cup of coffee and a cigarette and then take another look.
They never were able to duplicate his results--close, but not quite as good.
He took his secret to his grave.
I honestly think he could, knowingly or otherwise, see when the temperature was right, even though it looked the same to everyone else.