http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24280571/wid/11915829?GT1=40006

 

I didn't realize a persons hearing deteriorated so much with age. Apparently this device can only be heard by teens and those in their early 20s.

 

This would be perfect for Halloween, after the candy has been handed out, turn this sucker on and blast them away.

oddly, my hearing is the opposite. i've always had problems with lower frequencies, and as such, i always bias my stereo systems with heavier bass and reduced treble. audiophiles that ride in my car hate it. i can hear all the electronics, for example, when i walk into department stores (which i think is from the metal detectors) in malls. it is maddening. that i'm nearly 40 makes this mysterious to me.

 

on one of the law and order:CI episodes they mention ring-tones for cell phones that only kids can hear. i wonder if i could hear those as well?

 

taks

10 years ago the sound of a bus stopping was a whole cascade of painful screeches to me. Now it barely registers.

 

 

After 20 your body begins its slow trek downhill, thats just the way it is.

Edited April 24, 200817 yr by Gorgon

This device has been around for years. They're close to banning it because it doesn't discriminate (i.e. attacks nearby babies as well as rowdy 14 year olds equally).

Superman would have to sympathize you know.

I have above-average hearing for both low and high, except for a sort of 'dead zone' between 15-17khz - that range seems to have to be really loud for me to notice much.

 

I'm probably not nearly as bad as it sounds like taks gets it, since if there's enough general noise in the background, I won't be bothered too much, but many things, both low and very high, drive me batty at far earlier volumes than average, or if it's there's not much surrounding noise. Fluorescent bulbs, electronics, diva-power-singers, low pitch vibrations or motors/fans, etc.

 

My sense of smell might be even more sensitive. I'm not sure which is potentially more distracting. :D

i just had directv installed and had one of the units with a dying hard drive. most people, including my wife, can only hear the whirring sound all the HDD accesses make. i heard the high-pitch squeal that went with the whir. it was unbearable. the new unit they sent seems quiet so far.

 

taks

They're close to banning it because it doesn't discriminate (i.e. attacks nearby babies as well as rowdy 14 year olds equally).

Could you elaborate on who these baby-eating communists are that want to ban it?

 

Also, do you know if they have harmful effects on these babies or are they just annoying them?

Urinating on your property helps keep teenagers away. Works for hyenas too.

People have been playing this in school through their phones. It's kinda funny at first but after a while it gets annoying. Especially because the teacher can't really tell them to stop if they can't hear it.

i just had directv installed and had one of the units with a dying hard drive. most people, including my wife, can only hear the whirring sound all the HDD accesses make. i heard the high-pitch squeal that went with the whir. it was unbearable. the new unit they sent seems quiet so far.

 

taks

 

 

Gromnir went to berkeley. the notion of unbearable noise was purged from our being a long time ago. am suspecting that people who has been married a long time have a similar ability to simply tune out undesirable noise.

 

HA! Good Fun!

They're close to banning it because it doesn't discriminate (i.e. attacks nearby babies as well as rowdy 14 year olds equally).

Could you elaborate on who these baby-eating communists are that want to ban it?

 

Also, do you know if they have harmful effects on these babies or are they just annoying them?

 

I think it generally makes sense. It is unfair to use a weapon that doesn't discriminate targets. These weapons hit everybody below the age of 30 essentially. Still, I'm not going to lose any sleep if the weapon isn't banned.

 

http://news.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/02/15/026209

It doesn't sound ethical to me, either, to use a device like that for public areas. Especially since I'd probably personally notice it ... maybe not as loudly as a teen might, but it'd still bug me.

 

It is odd tho how I have that 'dead zone' that is, perhaps, normally fading out with age, but stuff much higher than that zone I can still hear perfectly.

 

My dad had a favorite story about a friend of his who thought his new speakers sounded muffled, but much later learned that he had a lot of wax deep in his ear. Doctor cleaned it out and everything was fine. So I wonder how many older people would hear a little better if they had their ear canals thoroughly washed out...since that's not something people do very often, if ever. Q-tips now and then, but not actually flushed out.

Ug, I poured hydrogen peroxide in my earhole once to clean it out and the mad bubbling right on my eardrum almost drove me insane.

^

am suspecting that people who has been married a long time have a similar ability to simply tune out undesirable noise.

9 years... i can tune out one specific pitch: from my wife's voice when she's scolding me.

 

taks

It doesn't sound ethical to me, either, to use a device like that for public areas. Especially since I'd probably personally notice it ... maybe not as loudly as a teen might, but it'd still bug me.

 

It is odd tho how I have that 'dead zone' that is, perhaps, normally fading out with age, but stuff much higher than that zone I can still hear perfectly.

 

My dad had a favorite story about a friend of his who thought his new speakers sounded muffled, but much later learned that he had a lot of wax deep in his ear. Doctor cleaned it out and everything was fine. So I wonder how many older people would hear a little better if they had their ear canals thoroughly washed out...since that's not something people do very often, if ever. Q-tips now and then, but not actually flushed out.

 

Q-tips are more likely to damage your eardrums than clean your ears out.

And they push most of the earwax further into the ear.

 

They do wor well enough to clean th exterior parts of the ears, which coincidentially are the parts you should worry about. Everything else that has to do with earwax should be handled by a general practitioner.

I personally use my little finger, which in my experience works well enough. Just remember to clean it afterwards or people might start to avoid shaking your hands or touching your keyboard.

 

Derailing threads is fun.

Edited April 26, 200817 yr by Moatilliatta

I clean my ears in the shower with my fingers. That way I can then clean my fingers thoroughly, too. I hate earwax on my fingers.

 

Still, I'm careful not to push my finger into my ear or use force, because again that can be damaging.

The whole Qtips are dangerous thing is over-rated. At least if you're an average adult with most of your fingers still attached and the brain to know not to push them too far in. I've swabbed the ear folds and poked them in my ears for 20+ years ... haven't harmed my eardrums or my hearing yet.

As far as you know. A lot of people say the same thing about loud music.

Normally I'd agree 100% with that, but I had my hearing tested not long ago (along w/a lot of other stuff...). Which is how I know about my average hearing 'loss' in that small frequency range and the still above-average hearing ability in many higher and lower ranges.

 

If you poked your eardrum, you'd know it. Maybe some people have ear canals that are more shallow than mine or something, increasing their risk w/Qtips. I think mine are pretty far back there.