Your ears have an age of their own

Hearing age test The highest tones fade first. A two-minute test shows roughly where yours stop. Photo: Sound On / Pexels 1 / 10

High frequencies fade first

Why it happens The hair cells that detect the highest pitches wear out earliest, usually unnoticed. Photo: cottonbro studio / Pexels 2 / 10

The mosquito tone Around 17 kHz sits near the edge of adult hearing. Teenagers often hear it easily. Photo: Karola G / Pexels 3 / 10

Before you start Start quiet and raise slowly. A tone you cannot hear can still be loud enough to harm. Photo: Burst / Pexels 4 / 10

8 kHz If 8 kHz is silent for you, that points to hearing loss rather than age. Get it checked. Photo: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels 5 / 10

12 kHz Losing 12 kHz is common past midlife and rarely affects speech or everyday listening. Photo: Karola G / Pexels 6 / 10

15 kHz Many adults lose this with no noticeable change to music or conversation. Photo: Rümeysa / Pexels 7 / 10

17 kHz Hearing 17 kHz suggests young or well-protected ears. Missing it is completely normal. Photo: Sound On / Pexels 8 / 10

Read it honestly Phone speakers, cheap headphones and room noise all shift the result. Photo: Kevin Malik / Pexels 9 / 10

Your turn Play each tone from 8 kHz upward and mark the last one you can hear. Photo: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels 10 / 10 Test your hearing