Are Your Ears Young?
Posted by jamesfrankel on December 7th, 2007
Yesterday I read one of the most interesting articles on the New York Times website titled A Ring Tone Meant To Fall On Deaf Ears written by Paul Vitiello in June of 2006 about a ring tone for cell phones that is out of the typical hearing range of people over the age of 30. The tone is at 17kHz, way above the highest note on a piano, but not quite as high as a dog whistle. The article includes a link to an MP3 of the ring tone that you can play back to experiment whether or not you are able to hear it. Me being a musician with a trained ear, especially when it comes to audio fidelity, I was absolutely horrified when I realized that I could not hear it at all. I actually thought it was a joke at first. I played it over and over in my empty classroom hoping to hear something. But there was nothing. When my students came in the room, I decided to try a little experiment with them. Without saying anything at all (and with my computer audio coming through the classroom speakers) I played the tone for the students. They instantly put their hands over their ears and yelled “Stop It!”. I said “Stop what?” “That annoying high note” they replied. It was incredible. For the first time in my life, I felt old and left out. I played it for my colleague (who is around 30 years old) and she did the same thing. Amazing. I put my ear up to the speaker and played it at a very high volume - nothing. The human ear is an amazing thing, and mine is getting older. I can’t hear certain parts of the audio spectrum.
So what are students doing with this? Plenty apparently. They are setting their cell phone ring tones for text messages to a tone called “Mosquito” that the majority of their teachers (myself included) cannot hear. Brilliant. The article details a teacher on Long Island who can hear the tones, and one who cannot. Many of my own students told me that they’ve been doing this for a long time and that they play games with the new teachers in class setting off each other’s ring tones just to “mess with them”. Whatever happened to humming in class or tapping? What will they think of next?
I urge you to listen to the MP3 and see whether you can hear it or not. Play it for your friends, or your students.
I welcome your comments and suggestions.
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December 8th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Hey Jim,
That is downright scary! I checked it out with my kids. To quote by son, “That is so stinkin’loud. Turn it off!” Oh, my poor old ears.
Stef
December 9th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
God that’s an obnoxious sound, I need it immediately for my phone! Anyways, I heard that you were leaving the school. I’m visiting this Tuesday and I hope that you’ll be there because I also heard that you were leaving “this week.” Please stay until Tuesday!!
-Alexandra S.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Alexandra,
I’m so thrilled that you found my blog! My last day is actually Dec. 20th. Hopefully I’ll see you on Tuesday.
Dr. F
December 18th, 2007 at 4:17 am
Hi James,
I played the mp3 in school - wondering if the speakers were working. A colleague, sitting nearby, but facing the opposite direction and unaware of what I was doing asked , “can you hear a high pitched noise?”
None of us in this department are spring chickens. I was very impressed.
Do you think that even young people could hear this in a noisy environment e.g. a train or bus?
December 18th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
[…] esteemed colleague across the water Dr. James Frankel, flagged up an interesting story from the NY Times which featured a mobile with a ring tone of such high […]
December 20th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
http://www.ultrasonic-ringtones.com/ Listen to varied frequencies of the sound and see which ones you are able to hear. There are quite a few.
December 25th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
[…] esteemed colleague across the water Dr. James Frankel, flagged up an interesting story from the NY Times which featured a mobile with a ring tone of such high […]
December 27th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I read about this last year. It was originally developed for use in areas where young loiterers were unwelcome. Train stations, malls entrances. The young kids can’t stand it and leave. Us old farts can’t hear it and aren’t bothered by it. BTW I can hear it if I’m really close. Age 50.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:04 am
I’m sitting here singing to keep a mouse in my wall at bay. Going to try this sound out on the mouse. If it works I’ll download and loop it, play throughout the evening hours.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Oops- actually won’t work. I can hear it and can’t stand it. Need something higher for the mouse.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Nicole,
Thanks for your reply. It’s great to hear from you. I still talk about your PowerPoint presentation that you did.
I’m very impressed that you can hear it. I still try…but nothing.
James