Hearing Range Test
Start low, raise the frequency, and mark where it disappears.
What you are actually measuring
Human hearing is often quoted as 20 Hz to 20 kHz. That is the range of a healthy young ear in ideal conditions, and almost nobody over about twenty-five still reaches the top of it.
The top end goes first, and it goes steadily. This is presbycusis — age-related hearing loss — and it is normal rather than a disease. The hair cells in the cochlea that respond to high frequencies sit closest to the entrance and take the most wear over a lifetime.
Roughly what to expect
- Under 20 — often up to 17–20 kHz
- 20s — around 16–17 kHz
- 30s — around 15–16 kHz
- 40s — around 14–15 kHz
- 50s and over — commonly 12 kHz or below
None of this affects speech. Conversation lives between roughly 300 Hz and 3.4 kHz, which is why telephones only ever transmitted that range and why losing the top octave changes how music sounds rather than whether you can follow a conversation.
Why this is not a hearing test
Be clear about this before drawing any conclusions. A real audiogram is performed in a sound-treated booth with calibrated headphones, measuring the quietest level you can detect at each frequency. What matters clinically is sensitivity, not the absolute upper limit.
Here, the result depends on your speakers or headphones, your volume setting, the room, and the noise around you. Most laptop speakers roll off sharply above 15 kHz, so you may be testing the speaker rather than your ear. Headphones give a better result but are still uncalibrated.
If you are worried about your hearing, see an audiologist. The things that warrant attention are not covered by this page at all: difficulty following speech in a noisy room, persistent ringing, a sudden change, or a difference between the two ears.
How to use it
- Use headphones if you have them, and start with the volume low.
- Begin around 1,000 Hz to set a comfortable level.
- Raise the frequency gradually and listen for where it fades out.
- Do not turn the volume up to chase it. That defeats the point and risks your hearing.
- Check both ears separately if you can. A noticeable difference is worth mentioning to a professional.
Keep the volume moderate. Sustained loud tones can damage hearing, and the damage is permanent. If anything is uncomfortable, stop.
Common uses
- Curiosity about where your own limit sits.
- Checking speakers or headphones, which often fail before your ears do.
- Comparing two people's hearing on the same equipment, which is more meaningful than either number alone.
Questions people ask
Is this a real hearing test?
No. A real audiogram uses calibrated headphones in a sound-treated room and measures sensitivity at each frequency, not just the upper limit. If you are concerned about your hearing, see an audiologist.
Why can I not hear above 15 kHz?
That is normal from your thirties onwards. The top of the range goes first with age, and it does not affect speech at all.
Could it be my speakers?
Very likely. Most laptop speakers roll off sharply above 15 kHz, so you may be testing the speaker rather than your ear. Headphones give a better result.
Does losing high frequencies matter?
Not for conversation, which sits between about 300 Hz and 3.4 kHz. It changes how music sounds rather than whether you can follow speech.
What should make me see a professional?
Difficulty following speech in a noisy room, persistent ringing, a sudden change, or a clear difference between your two ears.