Hearing Frequency Test
Sweep upward from 8 kHz and mark where the tone disappears.
8.0kHz
Your upper limit
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Losing the very top of your hearing range is a normal part of getting older and is not something to worry about on its own. Use headphones at a moderate volume, in a quiet room, and be aware that plenty of speakers roll off before 18 kHz — so a low result can be the hardware rather than your ears. This is a rough indication and not a substitute for an audiogram from an audiologist, which is what you want if you are actually concerned.
Your test runs locally in your browser. No device data is uploaded.
How to use the hearing test
Use headphones in a quiet room at a moderate volume. The sweep climbs from 8 kHz to 20 kHz over about 20 seconds. Press the button as soon as you can no longer hear the tone. Run it a couple of times, because it is easy to press slightly late the first time.
What the result means
The top of human hearing falls steadily with age, and this is normal rather than a sign of damage. Under 24, many people still hear 17 kHz or above. By 40 that is typically nearer 15 kHz, and by 60 around 12 kHz. Almost nobody hears a genuine 20 kHz.
Noise exposure accelerates the same process, which is why the result often sits lower than age alone would suggest for people who have spent time around loud music or machinery.
Why this is not a hearing test in the medical sense
It measures whether you perceive a frequency at whatever volume your particular hardware produces, in whatever room you are in. Plenty of speakers and cheaper earbuds roll off before 18 kHz, so a low result can be the equipment rather than your ears — trying a second pair of headphones usually settles which.
A proper audiogram plays each frequency at controlled, calibrated levels and finds the quietest one you can detect. That is a different measurement entirely, and it is the one to get if you have a real concern about your hearing.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a normal upper limit?
- It falls steadily with age. Under 24, many people hear 17 kHz or above. By 40 that is usually nearer 15 kHz, and by 60 around 12 kHz. Losing the very top is a normal part of ageing rather than a sign of damage.
- Could a low result be my hardware?
- Easily. Plenty of speakers and cheaper earbuds roll off before 18 kHz, so a low result on speakers says as much about them as about your ears. Use decent headphones at a moderate volume in a quiet room.
- Is this a real hearing test?
- No. It measures whether you perceive a frequency at whatever volume your device produces, which depends on your hardware, your room and your volume setting. A proper audiogram from an audiologist tests each frequency at controlled levels, and that is what to get if you are actually concerned.