The Mosquito Tone: 15000 Hz

15000 Hz (15 kHz) is a high-pitched frequency often referred to as the 'Mosquito Tone'. It is famous for being audible primarily to children and teenagers, while many adults over the age of 25 or 30 lose the ability to hear it due to presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).

The Science of High-Frequency Hearing

As we age, the hair cells in our inner ear that detect high frequencies naturally degrade. This process is normal but can be accelerated by exposure to loud noises. 15 kHz sits right at the boundary where this drop-off often becomes noticeable for adults.

Applications and Phenomena

Hearing Age Test: Play this tone to see if your hearing age matches your chronological age. Can you hear it?
Teen Buzz: Teenagers have used this frequency as a ringtone that they can hear but their teachers (usually older) cannot.
Audio Fidelity: Audiophiles use high frequencies to test the 'air' and transparency of high-end audio equipment.

Test your ears with this 15000 Hz tone and see where you fall on the hearing spectrum!