---
title: A ringtone adults cannot hear
date: "2006-06-13T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 296
description: Teenagers are using high-frequency ringtones that adults typically cannot hear due to age-related hearing loss. This allows students to receive alerts in class undetected, while shopkeepers use similar technology to drive away rowdy youth.
keywords: [high-frequency, hearing loss, ringtones, acoustics, presbycusis, the mosquito]
---

[![Frequency chart by age](/blog/assets/flickr-frequency-chart-by-age_166343662_o-gif.webp)](/blog/assets/flickr-frequency-chart-by-age_166343662_o-gif.webp)

Teenagers use it in classes, to avoid detection by teachers. Shopkeepers use the same technology to drive away rowdy teenagers, by creating a loud sound that doesn't affect adults.

This works because adults gradually lose the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. (via [NY Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/technology/12ring.html))

---

## Comments

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- **Livy** _12 Nov 2006 5:33 pm_:
  I can here the sounds up to about 18KHz.

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