Now Hear This!
New findings by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health show that there are significant differences between the hearing abilities of people from different ethnic backgrounds as well as between men and women.
Specifically, people of African decent hear better than people of European decent, and women hear better than men, the government study finds.
Some scientists believe that higher melanin levels in people of African decent may play a role in how the body removes harmful chemical compounds caused by damage to sensitive hair cells in the inner ear. Thus people with higher melanin content in their skin may be protected from noise-induced hearing loss as they age.
The reason why women hear better than men is not well understood at this stage. Elliott Berger, an Indianapolis-based hearing protection expert, said that genetics or differences in noise exposure may explain the difference between women and men. “Boys have typically done noisier activities,” Berger told the Associated Press, which reported on the study’s findings.
The study looked at more than 5,000 people who underwent hearing tests from 1999 through 2004 as part of a comprehensive, annual federal health survey that included physical examinations. The 10- to 20-minute test involved wearing headphones and pressing a button when a tone was heard.
