Why Some People Hear Better Than Others
Many people know that bats, dogs, cats, and dolphins can hear better than humans. But are there also people who can hear better than others?
Do women hear better than men, or do our men just not feel like listening to us?
It’s not uncommon to hear a man say, “My wife has super hearing. She can tell when I’m rolling my eyes in exasperation on the phone. And, most of all—she knows exactly what I’m thinking. Even when the receiver is off the hook.” A typical cliché, but true nonetheless. Women actually hear better than men because their hearing declines more slowly. The reason is simple: female hormones are good for hearing. For example, the hormone estrogen has a protective effect on the receptors in the ear. But don’t despair, dear men—in the midst of a noisy conversation, you’re better at concentrating and listening to just one voice. Women are comparatively more easily distracted, even though you might expect the opposite.
Hearing tests have shown that between the ages of about 50 and 60, our hearing ability declines significantly for no apparent reason. This usually happens quite slowly and initially affects high-pitched sounds. So if Grandpa keeps missing the doorbell, he’s probably not doing it on purpose. On top of that, older people sometimes experience annoying noises in their ears, such as tinnitus, or have trouble following conversations in noisy environments.
Age-related hearing loss involves the inner ear with its sensory cells, the auditory nerve, and certain areas of the brain that process the signals. This assumes that a pathological cause has been ruled out.
Those affected often do not even notice this age-related hearing loss themselves. It is only when family and friends bring it up that they realize something is wrong.
Blind People Hear Better
Andrea Bocelli and Stevie Wonder—two extraordinary artists with extraordinary musical achievements. But do blind people really hear better? The loss of sight leads to other senses becoming more acute. A Canadian study has shown that blind people perceive environmental sounds with greater distinction, locate them more accurately, and are better able to distinguish sound frequencies. This is not only interesting but also practical, since blind people must rely entirely on their hearing in many situations and are therefore all the more dependent on a keen sense of hearing.
Good hearing can be trained
A study by the University of Magdeburg and two universities in Hanover found that conductors have significantly better spatial hearing than other people. The reason for this appears to be the intensive, job-related training they receive while working with an orchestra. What applies to conductors also applies to “the average person.” Auditory experiences stimulate brain processes. Conversely, however, the brain can also “unlearn” how to process certain auditory areas if they are no longer perceived. Sound waves that reach the ear are converted into signals that travel via specialized nerve pathways to the brain’s auditory center, where they are analyzed and interpreted. Due to their incredibly high complexity, these processes have not yet been fully researched in detail.
We have concluded that there are indeed differences in how different people process sound. Not only age and gender, but also one’s occupation can play a significant role here. If you have concerns about your own hearing or notice any hearing difficulties, it’s best to consult a local hearing care professional or ENT specialist.
You can also take our online hearing test for an initial assessment.
