For instance, “people living in forest areas had the highest hearing sensitivity and those living at high altitudes having the lowest,” the study authors said. Those living at high altitudes may have weaker hearing due to lower air pressure, less sound in the environment, or body changes from living with less oxygen.
The researchers also saw a difference between those living in urban and rural environments— people in cities were more tuned in to higher-pitched sounds, possibly because they learn to ignore low-pitched traffic noise.