White men can’t hear

Black adults hear better than white adults and women hear better than men, claims a new government report. Scientists suspect melanin plays a role in how the body removes harmful chemical compounds that damage the ear’s hair cells and that genetics or the amount of noise exposure may explain the difference between women and men. The new study by scientists with the federal National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also found that overall, hearing in the United States is about the same as it was 35 years ago, despite the use of Walkmans and iPods.