As humans we have a propensity to test ourselves on a regular basis. Whether it be participating in a physical, or playing brain games to keep our minds healthy, we like to know everything is working as it should be. The only way to really know whether all is well in a particular department is to visit a specialist in that field. So, an optician to check your eyesight, a psychologist to check your mental well-being, etc.

However, if you don't actually think you need professional help you can just test yourself for fun on the Web. You don't even need to visit a serious website to gain an informal assessment of your health, with YouTube health check videos offering a fun and innovative way of testing various states of being.

What follows are 10 videos divided into five categories, all of which test you in one way or another. Some offer very blunt advice which should be taken with a pinch of salt. Just because you fail one (or more) of these tests doesn't mean you have something wrong with you, but if you do have genuine health concerns always seek professional help.

Eye Tests

This eye test examines your ability to spot odd numbers or letters lurking amongst a series of other numbers or letters. This isn't likely to be a test you'll encounter when visiting a real optician, but it's one that works surprisingly well on YouTube, with the video giving you limited time to spot the odd one out.

This eye test is focused on checking whether or not you're color blind, and if so, to what degree. You're shown a series of pictures that consist of a collection of random spots. Those who can see color in the normal way will be able to spot the outlines of the numbers, while those who are color blind won't be able to detect the hidden patterns.

Ear Tests

This ear test consists of nothing more than a hum played at different frequencies. The sooner you can hear the noise distinctly, the better your hearing. The same goes at the other end of the scale. Your age will have some bearing on this test, with the higher frequencies only likely to be heard by younger people.

This hearing test is of a similar nature to the previous one, except a noise is played at the same frequency throughout the short clip. Distraction is also employed to help make the test more difficult to pass, with the clip being set up as a test checking your eyesight rather than your hearing.

Awareness Tests

This awareness test asks that you look closely and follow the ball as it is passed around among the players. Keep your eyes peeled and your mind focused in order to remain aware of what is happening at all times. It's the only way of getting the correct answer. Which I suspect you won't... I know I missed it completely the first time around.

This awareness test asks you to work out who the killer was in the style of classic murder mysteries which get solved by an intelligent detective. Are you as good as Poirot? Perhaps. But your powers of deduction won't necessarily help you pass this particular test of awareness.

IQ Tests

This IQ test poses a series of questions designed to check your mental agility. You need to see past the obvious and delve a little deeper into the wording in order to do well. It should go without saying that the results given at the end can be taken lightly. This is, after all, just a short YouTube clip and not a Mensa entrance exam.

This IQ test is for those with little patience, as it takes only 10 seconds to complete. You're shown a sentence and asked to spot all of the F letters present within it. The results may surprise you, especially if you don't cheat and discover how many you're looking for before the test begins.

Personality Tests

This personality test is very simple and very short. You're asked to close your eyes and hold your hands out in front of you. Then you have to imagine your arms being pushed and pulled, with the physical response to the entirely imagined scenario showing how open you are to suggestion from a third party. Or perhaps there is something more going on.

The personality test is based on the famous Rorschach test as devised by Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach. You're shown a series of slides depicting ink blots, and asked to describe the first thing you see. The results give an indication of your personality characteristics and emotional reasoning. But it's important to remember that there is no right or wrong answers, so don't be freaked out by odd results.

Conclusions

I don't know about you but I'm exhausted after completing all of these tests. Some I passed with flying colors, others I failed miserably. Still, these are mostly intended to be fun and frivolous rather than serious assessments of your physical or mental well-being.

What do you think of these health check tests in general? Or of any one in particular? Do you think there is a place for this kind of thing online or should we ignore advice from rank amateurs on YouTube and beyond? Have you seen another test on YouTube you think deserves a wider audience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image Credit: Ken Teegardin