Should you have any worries about your hearing, it’s advisable to consult with an audiologist for a professional assessment.
The human ear typically has a hearing range from 500 Hz to 20,000 Hz, with most people being able to detect sounds up to 20,000 Hz before the age of 30. From ages 31-40, the ability to hear frequencies up to 12,500 Hz is common, but as we age, this range decreases furtherdown to approximately 11,500 Hz between 41-50 years old, and to around 8,000 Hz when we reach 61-70 years old.
A quick ninety-second test can help identify early signs of hearing loss by determining which ear is stronger. The test, developed by eargym, a hearing health platform, is based on a 2021 academic study and measures how well the left and right ears detect high-pitched sounds.
As we age, our ability to hear higher frequencies diminishes, and each ear’s hearing capability can decline at different rates. To take the test, users need to wear headphones, play this video , and pause when they can no longer hear the tone, recording the displayed age for both ears.
The frequency of the tone heard in each ear (measured in Hertz or Hz) is used to estimate their ‘hearing age’, helping users understand which ear is stronger. Ideally, the hearing age of both ears should closely align with our biological age.
However, recent analysis of an app-based ear age test by eargym revealed that nearly half (47%) of individuals aged 16-35 have a hearing age older than their actual age. Among these young adults with an older hearing age, the average difference between their hearing and biological age was 13 years.
Experts at eargym suggest that evaluating the strength of our ears individually can provide insights into the variance in hearing capabilities between them. A slight discrepancy is typical, but if you notice a sudden or major difference, it could be a warning sign of early hearing loss, reports Wales Online.
Andy Shanks, a hearing health specialist and co-founder of eargym, shared his personal experience: “As a former DJ, I used to wear my headphones covering only one ear to listen to the next track and the live mix at the same time. This often meant one of my ears was exposed to unsafe noise levels for longer periods than the other. Now, my left ear is weaker and roughly eleven years older than my right.”
Shanks also highlighted the importance of regular hearing checks, stating: “Checks like our L/R ear age check are a quick way to get an understanding of your hearing health and spot any potential changes. Send it to your family and friends as a way to spark discussion and encourage everyone to pay closer attention to their hearing.”
“A more thorough hearing test is a good next step to give you an even clearer picture of your hearing health, so you can seek further help if needed. 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 into the future.”
“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.”
