Like me, most people have faked our way through school chorus and church choir by mouthing our way all because we can’t sing very well. While they may actually enjoy the act of singing, such as in the car or while taking a shower, they’re sure to do it only when they’re alone. But if you think of yourself as being tone deaf, you’re certainly not alone. There are about one in seven people that believe they are tone deaf.

Most people think being tone deaf means you just can’t sing, but actually lots of lousy singers have no problems whatsoever hearing music, and they like to listen to it just as much as anyone. When the actual meaning of tone deaf is used, which is just for those who are not able to understand music, the number of people who are actually tone deaf is decreased. In some studies, it has been discovered that approximately only 1 out of every 20 people actually suffers from tone deafness. Tone deafness means that you are unable to distinguish between different pitches, that is how high or how low a note is, making it nearly impossible to identify even a simple tune.

Those who are severely tone deaf are referred to as having “amusia” amongst medical professionals. When you are born tone deaf, you are considered to have congenital amusia. Montreal Battery for the Evaluation of Amusia is a series of tests that researchers created to comb through the different kinds of musical deficiencies. Fascinating research using imaging tests make it possible to compare the brains of those with what are considered normal music abilities with those of a bona fide musician.

Genuine curiosity concerning the functions of the brain relating to the form of music encourages a large percentage of such studies. Currently, there are no researchers working on finding a cure for the tone deaf. Through discovering the mysteries of amusia, scientists hope that they will solve other challenges, including learning disabilities, and they believe that amusia itself could help one day with treating a number of alternative developmental disabilities.

In terms of the organizational structure of music, in the Western world we use half steps (also referred to as semitones) to classify the difference between musical notes. The majority of humans are able to detect the differences between musical notes easily; in fact, many of us are able to recognize fractional changes between semitones. Differences in pitch are much more difficult for those with amusia to distinguish, and often requires a considerable tonal difference before it is detected.

Pitch contour, pitch direction and pitch isolation seem to elude the hearing abilities of the tone deaf. The changes in the contour of a pitch are what ultimately form the melody of a song. Distinguishing changes in pitch within a musical phrase is an especially challenging task for those who have been classified as amusic.

The mechanics of rhythm seem as difficult to grasp for one who suffers from amusia as melody and pitch. However, if the music played is monotone with no variations in pitch, amusics display a good rythmic sense. Because rhythm and music are usually rather intrinsic, it’s certainly understandable that the pitch of the musical piece would hinder those with amusia, causing them to have trouble following the beat.

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The HSE have announced a brand new initiative aimed at encouraging manufacturers to make quieter machinery and businesses to use the quieter machinery. They have done this in a bid to try to reduce the amount of noise related health problems created in the workplace.

It has been estimated that 170,000 people within the UK suffer from hearing complications due to being exposed to high levels of noise in the workplace. The initiative ‘Buy Quiet’ has been designed to educate people to what they can do in order to reduce noise levels.

The HSE are particularly interested in building a closer working relationship with manufacturers and understanding what can be done to make reductions at work.

An event was held in March 2010 where the relevant businesses and organisations met up to debate how noise plays a big role in their daily lives and how it can impact on your hearing.

The workshop aimed to give information on the legal rules regarding noise levels and to help employers acknowledge the risk factors that are associated with noise induced hearing loss.

By law employers are required to monitor noise levels under The Control of Noise at Work Regulations Act. There are duties that employers have to fulfil in order to look after the interests of their employees. All employers must assess the risk to their employees and take action to reduce the noise levels if the risk assessment shows there is a need to. In some cases employers will be required to provide their employees with protective hearing protection if the noise levels cannot be controlled any other way. A duty of care is owed to employees and noise levels must be controlled and not exceeding the recommended safe level. Health surveillance tests should be undertaken when there is said to be a risk to the health of any employee.

Deafness claims can be pursued via a qualified solicitor. Tinnitus Claims are also often pursued by people suffering from work place hearing damage.