Study finds women hear better than men, environment plays major role
Recent studies have shown that women may have more sensitive hearing than men, challenging the old adage that moms have eyes in the back of their heads. A study published in the journal Scientific Reports examined the correlation between gender, age, and environment on hearing sensitivity.
Led by Dr. Patricia Balaresque at the Centre for Biodiversity and Environmental Research in Toulouse, France, scientists conducted hearing tests on 448 individuals from 13 global communities in Ecuador, England, Gabon, South Africa, and Uzbekistan. The results revealed that hearing sensitivity is primarily influenced by gender and environment, followed by age and left versus right ear.
The study used transient-evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE) to measure hearing sensitivity. TEOAE assesses the cochlea’s ability to produce and transmit an acoustic response after sound stimulation. The cochlea is a spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that converts sound waves into electrical impulses for the brain to interpret.
By analyzing TEOAE profiles, researchers gained insights into how the cochlea responds to external auditory stimuli. Test subjects had clicking sounds played into their ears, and the tiny sounds their inner ears sent back in response were recorded to determine sensitivity.
Women consistently showed higher sensitivity across all populations sampled, with an average of two decibels more sensitive hearing than men. This difference may be due to various factors, such as exposure to hormones during development in the womb or slight structural differences in cochlear anatomy.
Old age was associated with worse hearing sensitivity, although the differences were less pronounced than those between sexes. Individuals living in urban environments exhibited hearing profiles that shifted to higher frequencies, possibly due to constant city noises.
The study also found that individuals in tropical environments had higher sensitivity to hearing compared to those in high-altitude populations. This could be a result of living in areas with fewer human-made noises or an inherited trait from wild environments where vigilance is crucial for survival.
Overall, the findings suggest that hearing sensitivity is influenced by a combination of biological and environmental factors. Further research is needed to understand how human hearing may continue to evolve in response to different environments. Women’s higher sensitivity to hearing may have implications for overall health, especially in noisy environments where sensitive hearing may not always be beneficial.
