Life is full of loud noises – from rock concerts to crying babies and noisy football stadiums – so it’s not surprising that our ears get weaker the older we get.
But just how much should you be able to tune into at your age? Here, you can take a quick, 30-second test to find out.
One of the most common types of hearing loss – presbycusis – happens as, while growing up, a person will gradually find it difficult to hear ‘high-frequency’ sounds, such as the voices of women and young children.
According Decibel Hearing Services, this can happen for a number of reasons, including exposure to loudness, genetics and health issues.
‘Many things affect our hearing as we age,’ the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders also explained.
‘For example, changes in the inner ear that can affect hearing are common. Age-related changes in the middle ear and complex changes along the nerve pathways from the ear to the brain can also affect hearing.’
Humans can typically hear frequencies between 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. But these upper limits start to dwindle with age, so the average adult is much more likely to be between 15,000–17,000 Hz.
Most people will comfortable be able to hear 8,000 Hz.
Life is full of loud noises – from rock concerts to crying babies and noisy football stadiums – so it’s not surprising that our ears get weaker the older we get. But just how much should you be able to tune into at your age? Here, you can take a quick, 30-second test to find out. Stock image used
However, those who are aged over 50 may struggle with hearing above 12,000 Hz, while people over 40 will struggle with more than 15,000 Hz.
When it gets to around 17,000 Hz – only teenagers can typically hear these frequencies.
Eargym have devised a test to see what your ‘hearing age’ is – starting at low frequencies well into the 200s Hz and going up to 200,000 Hz.
At 70, many will be able to hear around 9,000 Hz, with the limit going up to about 10,000 for those in their 60s.
At 50, 12,000 Hz is the upper limit, while at 40, it becomes 14,000 Hz. At 30, people will hear into 15,000 Hz, while at 20 it’s about 17,000 Hz.
Once you get into the teens, people may hear well up until 20,000 Hz.
Eargym have devised a test to see what your ‘hearing age’ is – starting at low frequencies well into the 200s Hz and going up to 200,000 Hz
At 50, 12,000 Hz is the upper limit, while at 40, it becomes 14,000 Hz. At 30, people will hear into 15,000 Hz, while at 20 it’s about 17,000 Hz
One of the most common types of hearing loss – presbycusis – happens as, while growing up, a person will gradually find it difficult to hear ‘high-frequency’ sounds, such as the voices of women and young children
Speaking to MailOnline last year, Andy Shanks, hearing health expert and co-founder at eargym, said: ‘The majority of us will experience some form of hearing loss in our lifetimes.
‘But if we can spot the signs early and make some small changes, we can take steps to protect our hearing and prevent future avoidable hearing loss.’
He suggests using games such as this 30 second test to check your hearing regularly and pick up on any abnormal changes.
‘Safe listening practices, such as the use of ear defenders, gigplugs and noise-cancelling headphones, can also make a big difference when it comes to protecting our hearing health long in the future,’ he added.
‘Hearing loss is one of the biggest 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 12million people in the UK are affected by 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.
Around 12million people in the UK are affected by 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. Stock image used
According Decibel Hearing Services, this can happen for a number of reasons, including exposure to loudness, genetics and health issues
Humans can typically hear frequencies between 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. But these upper limits start to dwindle with age, so the average adult is much more likely to be between 15,000–17,000 Hz
Speaking to MailOnline last year , Andy Shanks, hearing health expert and co-founder at eargym, said: ‘The majority of us will experience some form of hearing loss in our lifetimes’
At 70, many will be able to hear around 9,000 Hz, with the limit going up to about 10,000 for those in their 60s
Yet adults wait an average 8.9 years before seeking help.
Research suggests hearing loss costs the UK economy £25bn a year in lost productivity and unemployment.
Common signs you’re 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 lots of possible causes of hearing loss, such as an ear infection, ear wax or age.
But it could also be caused by a perforated eardrum, which causes a 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 GP for a more thorough hearing test.
It comes as in December, an American pharmacist has revealed 11 of the common medications that can trigger the uncomfortable sensation known as tinnitus.
The condition, which affects more than 50 million people in the US, is a symptom of several medical conditions like ear injuries, earwax blockage or age-related hearing loss.
Sometimes the noise is present in one or both ears and it is most commonly described as a ringing, but it can also present itself as a range of sounds including buzzing, roaring, and whistling.
While there is no cure, pharmacist Ayesha Gulzar says there are things you can do to reduce its impact, starting with checking what medications you are taking.
She explained: ‘Certain medications cause tinnitus, which can be temporary or rarely permanent and depends on different factors.
‘Common ototoxic drugs (drugs that can have toxic effects on the ears) include antibiotics, analgesics (pain relievers), blood pressure medications, anticonvulsants (anti-seizure drugs), and others.’
