Online Hearing Test
Find out which frequencies you can hear — from 125 Hz deep bass to 20,000 Hz ultrasonic. Test left and right ear separately. Free, instant results, no download needed.
Volume
35%
Start low — increase only if you cannot hear
Test Ear
Use headphones for accurate left/right results
125 Hz
Very deep bass
250 Hz
Deep bass
500 Hz
Bass
1 kHz
Mid-range speech
2 kHz
Upper speech range
4 kHz
High-mid
8 kHz
High
12 kHz
Very high
16 kHz
Ultra high
20 kHz
Limit of human hearing
How to Take the Online Hearing Test
Put on headphones
Use headphones or earbuds for the most accurate results. Speaker tests are affected by room acoustics and speaker frequency response, which can make some frequencies harder to hear.
Set a comfortable volume
Start with the volume slider at 35%. Only increase if you genuinely cannot hear a frequency. Testing at a very high volume can trigger hearing at frequencies you otherwise cannot hear and will give misleading results.
Select your test ear
Choose Left, Both, or Right. When testing one ear, plug or cover the other ear so it does not help. The stereo panner routes the tone to the selected channel.
Click play on each frequency
Start from 125 Hz and work your way up. Click the play button. If you hear the tone, click 'I hear it'. If you cannot hear anything after 3–5 seconds, click 'Can't hear'. Do not rush.
Read your results
After testing all 10 frequencies, your hearing range and rating are shown. The highest frequency you can reliably hear indicates your upper hearing limit. Compare it to typical ranges for your age group.
Normal Hearing Range by Age
High-frequency hearing naturally declines with age. This table shows typical upper hearing limits by age group.
| Age Group | Typical Upper Limit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 | 18,000 – 20,000 Hz | Exceptional |
| 20–29 | 15,000 – 18,000 Hz | Excellent |
| 30–39 | 12,000 – 15,000 Hz | Very Good |
| 40–49 | 10,000 – 12,000 Hz | Good |
| 50–59 | 8,000 – 10,000 Hz | Fair |
| 60+ | Below 8,000 Hz | Age-related decline |
Source: Typical audiometric data. Individual results vary. Noise exposure history, genetics, and ear health all affect hearing range.
Causes of High-Frequency Hearing Loss
⚠️ Noise-induced hearing loss
Cause: Prolonged exposure to loud sounds (concerts, headphones at high volume, power tools, firearms) damages the tiny hair cells in the cochlea. High-frequency hair cells at the base of the cochlea are damaged first.
Action: Wear ear protection in loud environments. Keep headphone volume below 60% and take listening breaks every hour. The WHO recommends no more than 40 hours per week at 80 dB.
⚠️ Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis)
Cause: Natural deterioration of the hair cells in the inner ear begins around age 25. High frequencies decline first, which is why older adults often struggle to hear consonants like S, F, TH, and SH clearly.
Action: Presbycusis is not preventable, but protecting hearing from noise exposure slows its progression. Hearing aids can restore high-frequency perception when loss becomes significant.
⚠️ Earwax blockage
Cause: Built-up earwax can muffle all frequencies but particularly reduces high-frequency hearing. This is one of the most common and easily reversible causes of temporary hearing reduction.
Action: Do not insert objects into your ear canal. Use over-the-counter ear drops to soften wax, or visit a doctor or pharmacist for professional ear irrigation. Never syringe your own ears.
⚠️ Medication side effects (ototoxicity)
Cause: Some medications including certain antibiotics (aminoglycosides), chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin), and high doses of aspirin or NSAIDs can damage hearing, particularly at high frequencies.
Action: If you are taking one of these medications and notice hearing changes, contact your doctor immediately. Monitoring hearing during treatment with ototoxic drugs is standard practice.
⚠️ Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
Cause: A rapid loss of hearing in one ear, often discovered upon waking. Cause is usually unknown but may involve viral infection, vascular issues, or autoimmune response.
Action: Treat this as a medical emergency. See a doctor or go to A&E within 24–48 hours. Oral corticosteroids taken within 2 weeks significantly improve recovery chances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I do the online hearing test?▼
Put on headphones and set the volume to around 35%. Click the play button next to each frequency. If you hear the tone, click 'I hear it'. If you cannot hear it after a few seconds, click 'Can't hear'. Work through all 10 frequencies from lowest to highest. Your hearing range is shown at the end.
What is a normal hearing range?▼
Young adults with healthy hearing can hear from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. In practice, most adults comfortably hear from 125 Hz to 8,000–12,000 Hz. High-frequency hearing naturally declines from around age 25. If you can hear 16,000 Hz or above, your high-frequency hearing is excellent.
Can I hear 20,000 Hz?▼
Very few adults can hear 20,000 Hz. Most adults under 20 can hear up to 18,000 Hz, but this upper limit drops to around 14,000–16,000 Hz by age 30. If you can hear 20,000 Hz you have exceptional hearing. Most adults over 40 cannot hear above 12,000 Hz.
Is this hearing test accurate?▼
This test gives a good indication of your hearing frequency range and is useful for spotting significant high-frequency loss. However, it is not a clinical audiogram. Results depend on your headphone quality, volume settings, and how quiet your room is. For a medical diagnosis, see a licensed audiologist.
Do I need headphones for this test?▼
Headphones give the most accurate results. Speakers introduce room acoustics and rarely reproduce frequencies above 15,000 Hz accurately. Cheap laptop speakers may not reproduce frequencies above 12,000 Hz at all. If you only have speakers, use them but interpret high-frequency results cautiously.
Can I test each ear separately?▼
Yes. Select Left or Right ear using the ear selector above the test. The tone will be routed only to that channel through stereo headphones. Plug or cover your other ear during a single-ear test to prevent it from contributing to what you hear.
Why can't I hear high frequencies?▼
The most common reasons are age-related decline (which starts around 25), noise damage from loud music or headphones, earwax blockage, or sinus/ear infection. If you notice a sudden change in high-frequency hearing, see a doctor promptly — sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency.
Is 8,000 Hz good enough to hear?▼
Yes. Hearing up to 8,000 Hz is sufficient for understanding speech clearly. Human speech primarily occupies the 300 Hz to 4,000 Hz range. High-frequency hearing above 8,000 Hz helps with music detail, environmental awareness, and hearing consonants like S and SH at a distance, but is not essential for normal communication.
What if I can't hear 125 Hz?▼
If you cannot hear 125 Hz at a moderate volume through headphones, first check that your headphones are working and plugged into the correct jack. Very small earbuds may not reproduce deep bass well. If you still cannot hear it, consult an audiologist as this could indicate significant low-frequency hearing loss.
Should I see a doctor if I fail this test?▼
If you cannot hear frequencies below 4,000 Hz, or if you notice your hearing has changed suddenly, or if there is a big difference between your left and right ears, you should see a doctor or audiologist. This online test is a useful screening tool but not a substitute for a professional audiogram.