Got young ears?

[ejp626]

So this story broke pretty recently about a company that manufactures a device that sends "ultrasonic" noise out to discourage teenagers but supposedly cannot be heard by adults. Of course, the kids now buy this as a ring tone, since most teachers can't hear it (I guess they've never learned silent mode).

Anyway, here is a site where you can listen to different frequencies and determine which ones you can hear: Mosquito ring tones. (Sorry if any duplication but I didn't see this posted elsewhere.)

I think this may well be an overblown story or a lot of hooey to put it in technical terms. I can hear all of them (granted I am listening on headphones) and I am nearing 40. I suspect the age factor is more about all the boomers and Gen Xers who ruined their ears after going to too many rock concerts.

I guess I could start a poll to see who has good ears, but I'm just too beat tonight.

[Tom Storer]

I'm 50 and, listening without headphones, I can hear them up to the "39 and younger" category (15 kHz). The higher frequencies I don't hear. Even the 14 and 15 kHz I only hear when I turn it up loud.

But it's true that I have damaged my hearing--not from rock concerts but from decades of portable audio devices. I had to give up my iPod last year. No more headphones for me.

[ejp626]

I'm 50 and, listening without headphones, I can hear them up to the "39 and younger" category (15 kHz). ...

I can hear them through the speakers if I put my ear near, but my computer is set up with crappy speakers, so it isn't how I normally listen to anything.

I'm going to see if my wife can hear all frequencies tomorrow. I'm just a little surprised I didn't have problems, since I know my mom had lost a fairly wide range of frequencies by the time she was in her 50s.

The more general point is that these devices (the ones that broadcast from stores and such) are nowhere near as targeted as they claim, and there's a fairly good chance they will be outlawed by municipal noise/nuisance codes, esp. if 10-25% of old codgers like myself are affected. I read that they are soon to be outlawed in Scotland and perhaps the UK will quickly follow.

[Dan Gould]

Good timing for this thread. Just two days ago I noticed a report on CNN.com about this device, and brought it to the attention of the President of our Homeowners Association. We have a serious problem with young punks in the park/pool area particularly at night, and for $1500 I am going to strongly push the board to investigate these devices as a way to ensure that the area (which also features drug deals and thrice weekly assaults) is cleared from dusk until dawn.

I suffered a significant hearing deficit as a young child and couldn't hear a damn thing from any of those downloads.

[king ubu]

I can hear them all, at low volume on my notebook (no headphones) with the fan making lots of noise and the Mulligan CJB on in the next room... guess I use my ipod with reason, most often...

[porcy62]

Did you say something?

[porcy62]

Don't know about this digital mosquito, but I can clearly hear real mosquitos, those bastards.

[porcy62]

BTW I 'll hook my laptop to my stereo rig and hear what happen.

[BERIGAN]

I could hear all but the last one without turning my speakers up....and that's with really blocked ears from a cold....I haven't been to too many loud concerts, and I take ear plugs now....