Hearing Range Test
    Audio · Hearing

    Hearing range test

    Find the highest and lowest tones you can hear through your headphones or speakers. Lower your volume before you start.

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    Headphone & hearing check

    Step 3 of 4 · Channels, frequency response, your hearing range and the room's noise level.

    1. 1Left right audio test
    2. 2Sound test
    3. 3Hearing range test
    4. 4Decibel meter
    Next: Decibel meter

    About the hearing range test

    Updated

    The hearing range test plays a pure sine tone generated in your browser. For the high test it rises smoothly from 8 kHz towards 22 kHz and you press a button when it disappears; for the low test it rises from 20 Hz and you press when you first hear it. The frequency at that moment is recorded, every tone fades in and out, and the browser cannot play anything above half its output sample rate, so the ramp stops short of that limit. Results reflect your ears, your headphones or speakers and your volume together. It is not a medical hearing test.

    How to use it

    1. Turn your system volume down, put on headphones and set the volume slider so a tone is quiet but clear.
    2. Pick Highest tone and press Start. Press the button the moment the rising tone disappears.
    3. Pick Lowest tone and press Start. Press the button the moment you first hear the rising tone.
    4. Repeat each test two or three times and compare your best result with the typical ranges by age.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is a normal hearing range?

    Young people can often hear up to about 17–20 kHz. The upper limit usually falls with age, to around 12–14 kHz in your 40s and lower after that, but it varies a lot between people.

    Why does the tone stop before 22 kHz?

    A browser can only play frequencies below half its output sample rate, so at 44.1 kHz the limit is about 22 kHz. Many headphones and laptop speakers also stop well before that.

    Is this a medical hearing test?

    No. It measures your ears, headphones or speakers and volume together, using pure tones. If you notice hearing loss or ringing in your ears, see an audiologist.