Ever wondered how your mom always knew what was going on in the house, even when you thought you were being sneaky? Science says it wasn’t just intuition. A new international study has confirmed that women have approximately two decibels greater hearing sensitivity than men, across all populations.
The research, conducted across five countries, found that biological sex—not age—is the dominant factor influencing hearing sensitivity. For decades, factors like age, noise exposure, and genetics were thought to play the biggest role, but this latest study shows that being male or female is a stronger determinant of hearing ability.
NBC Palm Springs brought in relationship experts Jamie and Doug Baker to weigh in with their personal experiences. Jamie confirmed the findings, saying, “My mom was like Superwoman. She always knew what was going on. Women are just naturally more sensitive when it comes to hearing.”
Doug added humorously, “My mom could somehow know what I was doing at home from 20 miles away while she was at work.”
The study also revealed that women not only hear better but also outperform men in speech perception tests, indicating their brains process auditory information more efficiently.
Jamie reflected on the broader meaning, “Women are strong and resilient. Our bodies are designed to give life, and it’s only fitting that we hear and know better, too.”
Doug joked about his life with Jamie’s sharp hearing, “I can be on the other side of the house and let out the tiniest sigh, and I’ll immediately hear her yell, ‘Why are you sighing?’ I don’t know how she does it.”
The findings offer scientific validation for what many have long suspected: when it comes to hearing, moms really do have superpowers.
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By: NBC Palm Springs
May 11, 2025
