Sex Differences in Hearing in Relation to Noise Exposure

Abstract

An investigation of the conditions of noise exposure and an otorhinologic and audiologic examination of 60 men and 66 women in a textile mill has shown that 33% of the men and 76% of the women had “normal hearing index”. The greater part of the women were exposed to a somewhat louder noise than the men. A statistical analysis of the results of the investigation has shown that this difference in the auditory status between men and women is significant, even when differences between these groups with respect to age and time of employment distribution are considered. It is also shown that it is less probable that this difference depends entirely on the military service of men: there is reason to suspect the existence of a real difference between the sexes to the advantage of the women with regard to resistance to noise-induced hearing loss.