Hearing Frequency Test
A rising tone shows the highest pitch you can hear. A quick check, not a medical test.
--kHz
Use headphones at a comfortable volume, then press Start.
- Both ears
- -
- Left
- -
- Right
- -
Set the volume while the test plays, low enough to be comfortable at the start.
How the test works
- Put on headphones and set your device volume to a normal listening level.
- Press Start the test. A soft tone starts at 4 kHz and rises to 20 kHz over 35 seconds.
- Press I can't hear it anymore the moment the tone disappears. The page notes the frequency, slightly corrected for your reaction time.
- Repeat with Left and Right to compare your ears. Run each test twice; the second result is usually more reliable.
What your result means
Human hearing is usually given as 20 Hz to 20 kHz, but the top end shrinks with age. Children and teenagers often hear 17 kHz and above. Many adults in their 30s and 40s stop around 14 to 16 kHz, and many people over 50 stop around 10 to 12 kHz. Years of loud music or noise lower it further. Speech sits mostly below 4 kHz, so a lower top end rarely affects conversation.
The result also depends on your equipment. Phone and laptop speakers and many earbuds cannot play the highest tones, so a result of 15 or 16 kHz may be the limit of the speaker rather than your ears. If one ear scores much lower than the other, or you notice ringing or muffled hearing, see a doctor or audiologist.
This is not a medical hearing test. It does not measure how quiet a sound you can hear, which is what a real hearing test checks across many frequencies.
Questions and answers
Is this a medical hearing test?
No. It is a rough, fun check of the highest pitch you can hear through your own speakers or headphones. Only an audiologist can test your hearing properly. If you notice hearing loss or ringing in your ears, see a doctor.
What is the normal hearing range?
Young people can often hear up to around 17 to 20 kHz. The upper limit drops with age and noise exposure, so many adults do not hear tones above 12 to 15 kHz. This is normal and barely affects speech.
Why do I hear nothing above a certain frequency on my laptop?
Many laptop and phone speakers and cheap headphones cannot play very high tones. If the result looks low, repeat the test with good headphones.
Why test each ear separately?
Hearing is often not the same in both ears. With headphones, choose Left or Right to check each ear on its own.