There Really Are Sounds Only Teens Can Hear

Every once in a while, a true story gets tagged as an urban legend because it seems so unbelievable ...

Stephanie Dunnewind of the Seattle Times has set the record straight on one of them:

A high-pitched sound originally intended to annoy teens has now turned into a "secret" ring tone that old folks -- those over 20 or 30, anyway -- can't hear.

While age-related hearing loss -- called presbycusis -- mostly hits those over age 60, even people just out of their teens can have trouble hearing the highest frequencies (18 to 20 kilohertz), according to Compound Security Systems. The British company's "ultrasonic teenage deterrent," the Mosquito, emits an annoying high-pitched sound that only teens can hear to discourage loitering outside businesses.

Enterprising teens -- realizing a benefit to making their cellphones, in effect, audibly invisible -- turned the un-sound into a ring tone. Now the company also pitches an "official" Mosquito ring tone (it can be downloaded in the U.S. from for $2.99).

"We suggest you find the highest-pitched one that you are able to hear and use that to give yourself the best chance of fooling the adults," advises Ultrasonic Ringtones, which lets visitors hear (and download) different tones.

"Fooling the adults" would be a reference to the parents and teachers who don't realize students are receiving text messages when phones are supposed to be turned off.

If nothing else, it's an amusing test to play different tones to see how kids react. "Ow ow! It's hurting my ears!" moaned one 12-year-old, futilely trying to plug them, while this adult sat blissfully unaware.