Find out how old your ears are with doctor’s quick at-home hearing test

Health & Wellness

By Ellissa Bain

31 October 2024

A doctor has shared a quick test that reveals how old your ears are based on the highest frequency you can hear.

Humans can hear a frequency of�between 20 and 20,000 hertz�(Hz), although most can only hear up to 15,000 to 17,000 Hz. It’s normal to stop hearing higher pitches in later life, but problems with your ears at a younger age are a cause for concern.

Woman have tinnitus,noise whistling in her ears. Credit: bymuratdeniz (Getty Images)

Find out how old your ears are

The hearing test, shared on TikTok by Dr�Joe�Whittington,�plays a sound from 20 to 20,000 Hz and tells you to pause the video when you can no longer hear the noise.

As the noise plays, a number signifying the age you should be able to hear the sound at builds up on the right. When you stop the video, it shows the highest pitch you can hear on the graph and how old your ears are.

If the age on the screen is younger than you are right now, that means your hearing is really good for your age. However, a number higher than your current age could signify hearing loss that is not normal, and you may benefit from a hearing test.

READ MORE: Hating hearing people chew food is a real disorder, doctor explains and its treatable

Remember, the at-home test is not a medical diagnosis. If you are concerned, you should seek help from a trained audiologist who will be able to provide a proper hearing test that accurately measures your ability to hear sounds.

Have a go:

@drjoe_md
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that the first thing to go with my hearing was the high frequencies. It’s a common part of aging known as presbycuss, where sounds like birds chirping or higher-pitched voices start to become harder to pick up. It’s subtle at first, but over time, I realized I was missing out on certain sounds, especially in noisy environments or when there’s a lot of background noise. It’s just one of those things that happens with age, and you don’t realize it until it’s gone. #hearingtest #hearingloss #audiology #healthtips #reverseaging
♬ original sound – Dr. Joe, M.D. 🩺

What causes hearing loss?

You lose your hearing as you age as tiny hair cells inside your inner ear get damaged or die, MedlinePlus explains.

These hairs pick up sound waves from around you and change them into nerve signals that your brain interprets as sound. They don’t repair themselves or regrow, so once the hair cells are damaged, the hearing loss is permanent.

Sometimes, it’s repeated exposure to loud noises over the years that causes you to lose your hearing in later life. However, family history, smoking, certain conditions like diabetes and medicines, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can all play a role.

Symptoms of hearing loss include difficulty hearing people, having to turn the TV volume up, frequently asking others to repeat themselves, ringing in the ears and difficulty understanding people with higher-pitched voices.

Some may also have problems hearing in noisy areas and struggle telling apart similar sounds, such as “s” and “th”.

How to protect your hearing

Some hearing loss is unavoidable, but there are things you can do to lower your risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends: