From: Michael S. Lorrey (mike@datamann.com)
Date: Mon Apr 24 2000 - 13:22:03 MDT
Zero Powers wrote:
> >From: Natasha Vita-More <natasha@natasha.cc>
> >
> >The article by Casey Walker in Feed magazine has left me a bit perplexed.
> >I'm not quite dubious, but I certainly would appreciate more information
> >from someone(s) on the list. Can anyone explain if the following
> >statements are valid and if so, how much and what type of research has been
> >performed?
> >
> >Specific statements that caught my eye:
> >
> >
> >1. "... senses of smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing have decreased at
> >a rate of nearly one percent per year."
>
> I'm way dubious. I would certainly like more info about this research. It
> sounds like this research has tested the same 4000 people over a period of
> 20 years. If all they have determined is that people's senses diminish as
> they age, all I can say is "well duh!" If on the other hand they are
> claiming that the senses of a 20 year old today are 20% less acute than
> those of a 20 year old of 1980, I'd have to say "show me the data."
Especially since this is contradicted by evidence that older people's sense of
hearing actually changes over time so that they are MORE sensitive to certain
sounds that are typical of rock and roll music (really).
Smell? Possibly. Sight? Its common for sensitivity to red frequencies to
decrease over time (which will cause old people to use a lot of bright red
colors when they decorate). Overall sight does degrade significantly, which is
why most states require people over a certain age to have an eye test every time
they renew their licenses.
Mike
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