How the hearing age test works
As we get older we gradually lose the ability to hear very high frequencies. This is called presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) and it usually starts at the top of the hearing range, long before it affects speech. Young people can often hear up to around 17–20 kHz; by middle age the limit is commonly 12–15 kHz. This test plays tones from 8 kHz upwards and estimates your "hearing age" from the highest tone you can hear.
- Use headphones or earbuds – phone and laptop speakers often cannot play very high tones.
- Set your device volume to about half and the slider on this page to its default. Do not turn it up very high: high tones can be unpleasant.
- Press Start hearing age test. For each tone press I can hear it or I can't hear it.
- The result shows the highest frequency you heard and a typical age range for it.
Hearing age chart
| Frequency | Usually heard by |
|---|---|
| 8,000 Hz | Almost everyone |
| 12,000 Hz | Most people under about 50 |
| 15,000 Hz | Most people under about 40 |
| 16,000 Hz | Most people under about 30 |
| 17,400 Hz ("mosquito tone") | Most people under about 24 |
| 19,000 Hz | Most people under about 20 |
| 20,000 Hz | Mainly children and teenagers |
These ages are rough averages, not rules. Some older people hear higher tones and some young people cannot, especially after years of loud music.
What is the mosquito tone?
The mosquito tone is a high-pitched sound around 17.4 kHz. It became famous because devices playing it were used to discourage teenagers from loitering, since adults usually cannot hear it. Students also used it as a ringtone that teachers could not hear. You can play it with the 17.4 kHz button above.
Why you might not hear a tone (even with good hearing)
- Your headphones or speakers stop early. Many earbuds and laptop speakers roll off above 15–16 kHz.
- Bluetooth compression may cut very high frequencies. Wired headphones are more reliable for this test.
- Sample rate: devices running at 44.1 kHz cannot reproduce anything above 22 kHz, which is fine for this test, but some phones apply filters lower than that.
- Background noise – take the test somewhere quiet.
Check that your headphones can reproduce the whole range with the sweep on our headphone test or the tone generator.
Is this a real hearing test?
No. A real hearing test (audiogram) is done by an audiologist with calibrated equipment in a quiet booth and checks both ears at many frequencies, especially the speech range of 250 Hz to 8 kHz. This online test only looks at the very top of the range and is for curiosity and fun. If you notice difficulty following conversations, ringing in your ears (tinnitus) or sudden hearing changes, see a doctor or audiologist.
Protect your high-frequency hearing
- Keep headphone volume moderate – roughly 60% for no more than about an hour at a time is a common guideline.
- Use earplugs at concerts, clubs and when using loud tools.
- Noise-cancelling headphones let you listen at lower volume in noisy places.
Supported devices and browsers
- ComputersChrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS.
- Phones and tabletsChrome or Samsung Internet on Android; Safari or Chrome on iPhone and iPad.
- Audio outputAny speakers or headphones.
- How it worksSounds are generated on your device with the Web Audio API. No download and nothing is recorded.
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Check left, right, stereo, bass, treble and run a full frequency sweep.
Start testFrequently asked questions
What is a normal hearing range?
The usual quoted range for young, healthy ears is about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The upper limit falls steadily with age.
What frequency can a 30-year-old hear?
Many people around 30 can hear up to about 16–17 kHz, but there is a lot of variation between individuals.
Why can't I hear 17 kHz?
Either your hearing has a lower upper limit, which is normal with age, or your headphones and device do not reproduce that frequency. Try wired headphones before drawing conclusions.
Is it safe to listen to high frequency tones?
Yes at moderate volume and for short periods. Do not turn the volume up to compensate for a tone you cannot hear – you may not notice how loud it actually is.