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Research unearths 'musical disability'
Boffins at Montreal University claim that they have proved the existence of a ?musical disability?.
Research psychologist Professor Isabelle Peretz has completed research which may explain why some people cannot sing in tune.
The technical name for tone deafness is amusia - or the lack of ability to distinguish between melodies.
Usually amusia is the result of physical damage to the ear or brain. However, Peretz studied people who were healthy except for their inability to tell one tune from another.
The research team concluded that lack of musical ability was a congenital disability and that the condition may be genetic.
Professor Peretz explained: "Music is probably the only domain which requires fine-grained pitch discrimination to be appreciated."
"A poor pitch discrimination would interfere with the development of music competence."
The Disability Rights Commission have so far failed to comment on whether ?musical disabilities? would be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act.
Patrick Greaney 18 Jan, 2002
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