Do you have high-frequency hearing damage? Or age loss?

[Chris D]

Found this interesting. As you likely know, our hearing degrades over time, starting with the higher frequencies. People have actually come up with annoying tones to get younger people to leave areas where they are not wanted.

Here's one test.

http://theoatmeal.com/quizzes/sound/

Interestingly enough, I can hear that one just fine, and I'm 35.

[Kevin P]

I hear a buzzing that is probably an MP3 artifact, but I can sort of "feel" the ultrasonic sound. If it is loud in a place it might irritate me, and I'm 43.

Any young'un can just use earplugs to avoid the noise in places where it's being used.

[Ovation]

I hear it fine and I'm nearly 43.

[Alaric]

I heard it and I'm 48. Has anybody thought that audio nuts will score higher on a hearing test than normal people? We actively listen for frequency ranges most people don't even know exist.
Given my profession and youthful exuberance regarding rock concerts , I'm surprised I can hear anything.

[P-Dub]

Anybody know what frequency the tone that is being played?

I can hear it. But through my laptop speakers. I'm gonna try it on some other real speakers...Yup I can still hear it.

[David Meek]

I think I can barely hear it in my right ear and the tinnitus in the left obscures it. Oh well, 52 here.

[Chris D]

The story I heard many years ago was that British convenience store owners were having problems with teenagers loitering by the store, and then causing trouble. They played a very high-pitch annoying tone around the store, which older patrons couldn't hear, so they kept coming, but it drove away the teenage hooligans. I'm wondering if that example link above is QUITE high enough in frequency.

No idea what the frequency is, but if somebody has the equipment to find out, I'm curious too.

[Ovation]

I listened to another "test tone" (associated with a NYTimes article on the British stores) and it was labelled at 17 khz. I could hear that one fine (about 2 or 3 years ago--I forget the exact date).

[Alaric]

The story I heard many years ago was that British convenience store owners were having problems with teenagers loitering by the store, and then causing trouble. They played a very high-pitch annoying tone around the store, which older patrons couldn't hear, so they kept coming, but it drove away the teenage hooligans. I'm wondering if that example link above is QUITE high enough in frequency.

No idea what the frequency is, but if somebody has the equipment to find out, I'm curious too.

Sooooo , I have the potential to still be a hooligan at my age? I like that! :T

[Glen B]

I'm 54 and heard the above sound just fine. It was very irritating. To my ears it seems like a combination of frequencies, not just a single one.

[Johnloudb]

I could hear it fine. But it must not be too high, because I can't hear test tones above 8kHz.

[scarpi]

Hell, I can't hear it and I'm 63 with constant high pitched ringing in my ears. And I'm also thinking of upgrading my speakers to Sonus Fabers. Oh well!

[Industrial]

No problem hearing it and I'm the same age as Chris D. I turned it on and heard it right away, seconds later my dog perked up and was staring at the location of the sound . Reminds me of when someone leaves on a CRT tv
with the sound off.

[Chris D]

Exactly... I can hear CRT televisions and computer monitors when they're on... they emit a faint high-pitched tone. This has been known to be one of the things that lessens or disappears with age.