Dr. Konstantina Stankovic

So very roughly, we categorize them into those with tough versus tender ears.

That's super simplification.

But it tells you that there must be a genetic predisposition to their vulnerability because they had the same environmental exposure.

And now we are uncovering genes that are contributing to this vulnerability.

And it's not one.

It seems like it's several different genes that are working together to orchestrate this sensitivity.

What we have also learned from both human and animal studies is that children are definitely more vulnerable.

So another take-home lesson for the parents, what may be comfortable for an adult may be too loud for children.

And it's another important message for how loud different events are in elementary schools.

or middle schools, because by the time they are high schoolers, auditory sensitivities are changing.

But there are numerous studies that have shown that younger people or younger animals are more vulnerable to noise levels.

Yes, it's adding insult to injury.

And indeed, then the effect can be synergistic as opposed to additive.

They do.

It really depends on whether they are fitted properly and how much attenuation they are designed to provide.

Because some provide only 10 to 15 decibel of attenuation and others provide 30 decibel of attenuation.

And depending on the ambient noise levels, one versus the other may work.

They are.

And the way we know that is from people who have hyperacusis that we alluded to before.

And they are just so uncomfortable being in loud environments or even what we consider normal auditor environments that they wear earplugs.