Women have significantly more sensitive hearing than men across all ages, according to a recent study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers found that sex is the leading factor explaining differences in hearing sensitivity, with women exhibiting an average of two decibels more sensitive hearing than men.
The study, conducted by Dr. Patricia Balaresque from the Center for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (CRBE) in Toulouse (France), involved 450 individuals from 13 global populations across various ecological and cultural contexts. The researchers used Transient-Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) to measure hearing sensitivity, finding that women’s hearing was more influenced by sex than age.
The study also revealed significant differences in hearing sensitivity based on the environment. People living in forest areas had the highest hearing sensitivity, while those living at high altitudes had the lowest. The researchers suggest that adaptations to soundscapes and lower levels of pollution may contribute to increased hearing sensitivity in forest-dwellers.
Moreover, the team found a difference between urban and rural populations, with city dwellers exhibiting a shift towards higher frequencies possibly due to filtering out low-frequency traffic noise.
The study’s findings challenge existing assumptions about the factors influencing hearing loss. Dr. Balaresque stated that considering both biological and environmental factors is essential for understanding hearing variation. The researchers hope to improve their understanding of hearing loss and individual differences in noise tolerance with further research.
Their work also highlights the importance of genetic adaptations in response to different environments, as humans continue to evolve.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-women-men-amplitude-sex-age.html