How old are YOUR ears? A 30-second hearing age check can show whether you are losing your hearing prematurely
- The test plays an increasing frequency to check whether you have hearing loss
- Analysis of the test shows that almost half of people under the age of 35 have an older hearing age
Want to know if you have early signs of hearing loss?
Well, now you can — thanks to a simple 30-second test.
The test, created by the hearing health app’s Ear Gym, asks you to press the pause button if you can no longer hear the tone in the background.
The frequency of the tone that users can hear (measured in Hertz) is used to estimate the user’s hearing age because as we age it becomes increasingly difficult for our ears to hear higher frequencies.
Most people can initially hear sounds up to 20,000 Hz.
This almost halves to 11,500 Hz in your 40s and drops even further (8,000 Hz) for adults in their 60s, according to a 2021 study. study published in the Journal of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
A recent analysis of results from an app-based version of this test shows that almost half (47 percent) of 16-35 year olds have a hearing age older than their biological age.
Of the 16-35 year olds with a higher hearing age, the average age difference between their hearing age and their biological age was 13 years.
Around 12 million people in Britain suffer from hearing loss. It is associated with social isolation and cognitive decline; and is one of the largest modifiable risk factors when it comes to developing dementia
Andy Shanks, hearing health expert and co-founder of Eargym, said: ‘The majority of us will experience some form of hearing loss in our lifetime.
“But if we can spot the signs early and make some small changes, we can take steps to protect our hearing and prevent future preventable hearing loss.”
He suggests using games like this 30-second test to check your hearing regularly and notice any abnormal changes.
“Safe listening practices, such as using earmuffs, gig plugs and noise-canceling headphones, can also make a big difference when it comes to protecting our long-term hearing health,” Mr Shanks added.
‘Hearing loss is one of the largest modifiable risk factors for dementia and is strongly associated with poor mental health and cognitive decline.
‘So taking care of our hearing at all ages is essential to protect not only our ears but also our minds.’
Around 12 million people in Britain suffer from hearing loss.
It is associated with social isolation and cognitive decline, and is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors when it comes to developing dementia.
Yet adults wait an average of 8.9 years before seeking help.
Research shows that hearing loss costs the UK economy £25 billion a year in lost productivity and unemployment.
Common signs that you may be suffering from hearing loss include asking people to repeat themselves, difficulty hearing on the phone and listening to music or the TV at a higher volume than other people need, the NHS warns.
There are many possible causes of hearing loss, such as an ear infection, earwax or old age.
But it can also be caused by a perforated eardrum, which causes sudden hearing loss, or Ménière’s disease, which can affect your balance and hearing.
If you notice signs of hearing loss, it is important not to self-diagnose and visit your doctor for a more thorough hearing test.