An online test promises to reveal the age of your ears – all via playing sounds through your headphones.
The minute-long test, popularized by British education organization eChalk, works by playing progressively higher frequency sound to listeners.
Participants are asked to press ‘stop’ once they can no longer hear sound, which the test says reveals the age of their ears.
The test, developed by British education organization eChalk, works by playing progressively higher frequency sounds to listeners (screenshot of the test)
Hearing experts say the test is largely a “good party trick,” but add that it can be a useful tool to warn people who are experiencing a decline in their hearing.
The test uses hertz (Hz) to measure hearing, meaning all people can hear sounds up to 20,000 Hz from the start.
But by the age of 20 this seems to have decreased and we can only hear sounds below 18,000 Hz.
And by age 50, this should have decreased further, so that people can only hear sounds below 12,000 Hz.
Audiologists say the natural range for human hearing is about 2,000 to 20,000 Hz.
But this gradually decreases over time; most adults cannot hear sounds above 16,000 Hz by the time they reach 30 years old.
In their 70s, people may not be able to hear sounds above 14,000 Hz.
Dr. Amy Sarow, an audiologist at Norway-based hearing aid testing service Soundly, said: ‘While these tests are fun to do, they lack the sensitivity and specificity to provide meaningful diagnostic insight into the severity and type of hearing loss a person may experience. person can have.
‘At best, these tests can screen for high-frequency hearing loss.
‘For example, it could indicate high-frequency hearing loss if you have difficulty hearing sounds above 2,000 Hz.’
Blake Cadwell, co-founder of Soundly, described the test as a “fun party trick.”
About 15.5 percent of American adults, or 40 million people, have hearing problems, survey data shows.
Among older adults, one-third suffer from hearing loss.
Hearing gradually declines with age – in a medical condition called presbycusis.
This can be caused by changes in blood flow to parts of the ear, changes in the nerves in the ear, or shifts in the way the brain interprets sound.
It usually only affects the high-pitched sounds and is detected when people begin to notice subtle changes in their hearing over time.
Common symptoms include difficulty hearing softer voices, difficulty with children, and speech in the presence of background noise.
People with diabetes, poor circulation or regular exposure to loud noise may be more likely to suffer from hearing loss.