Hearing age sweep
A smooth rising tone finds your exact upper frequency limit, then compares it with typical values by age. Quick tones let you check a single pitch in one tap.
Hearing age · Left & right ear · Audiogram
Online Hearing Test: Check Your Hearing Age and Each Ear
Take a free online hearing test with headphones. Find the highest pitch you can hear and your approximate hearing age, then test your left and right ears separately at speech frequencies and see the results on an audiogram-style chart.
- Hearing age sweep
- Per-ear tone test
- Audiogram chart
- Private, no sign-up
Use headphones in a quiet room. Check left and right, then set a comfortable volume and keep it the same.
Highest frequency you can hear
A tone rises from 8,000 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Press the button the moment it disappears.
8,000 HzReady
Quick hearing age check
Tap a tone to play it for 3 seconds. If you can hear it, you can probably hear everything below it.
Some speakers and earbuds cannot play tones above about 16,000 Hz. If you hear nothing at high pitches, your equipment may be the limit, not your ears.
Pure tone ear test
Each ear hears short beeps that get quieter. Answer honestly whether you heard them. Takes about 2 to 4 minutes.
Right ear
1,000 Hz
Listen for three short beeps
Your results
Complete the ear test to see your chart. Points higher on the chart mean you heard quieter tones.
This is a screening tool for curiosity and self-checks, not a medical diagnosis. Levels are relative to your device volume and are not calibrated dB HL. If you have concerns about your hearing, see an audiologist or doctor.
Why it’s better
Two hearing tests in one, with honest results
Many online hearing tests only play a few beeps or push you toward booking an appointment. This one gives you a detailed picture of both ears and explains what it can and cannot tell you.
Each ear tested separately
Tones play in only one ear at a time, from 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz, the range that matters most for understanding speech.
Audiogram-style chart
Results are plotted like a clinical audiogram, with circles for the right ear and crosses for the left, so differences jump out.
5 dB resolution
The test steps down in 10 dB steps and then checks the halfway point, giving a finer result than simple heard or not-heard tests.
Smart result summary
The summary flags large differences between ears, a drop at high frequencies, or tones you could not hear at all, and tells you when a professional check is worth it.
Private and free
No email, no sign-up and no data sent anywhere. Your last result is saved only on your device so you can compare next time.
| Feature | This hearing test | Typical online test |
|---|---|---|
| Hearing age sweep and per-ear test | Both | Usually one or the other |
| Audiogram-style chart | Yes | Often just a label |
| Left and right channel check | Yes | Rarely |
| Click-free tones | Smooth fades | Sometimes audible clicks |
| Email or sign-up required | Never | Often |
How it works
How to take an online hearing test
A few minutes of preparation makes your results far more reliable.
Find a quiet room
Turn off fans, TV and music. Background noise can hide quiet tones.
Put on headphones
Over-ear or in-ear headphones work best. Use the Left and Right buttons to make sure they are the right way round.
Set the volume once
Play the volume check tone and set it to a clear but comfortable level. Do not change the volume during the test.
Answer honestly
Only press I heard it when you are sure. Guessing makes your results look better than they really are.
Hearing age
Hearing age chart: frequency by age
People can hear roughly 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz when young, and the upper limit usually falls with age, a change called presbycusis. Noise exposure can lower it sooner. Use this chart as a rough guide only: individuals vary a lot, and a hearing age says nothing about how well you hear speech.
| Frequency | Typically heard by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8,000 Hz | Almost everyone | Upper end of standard hearing tests |
| 10,000 Hz | Most people under 60 | Detail in cymbals and birdsong |
| 12,000 Hz | Most people under 55 | Common upper limit in later life |
| 14,000 Hz | Most people under 45 | Middle age drop-off |
| 15,000 Hz | Most people under 40 | Typical adult limit |
| 16,000 Hz | Most people under 30 | Many earbuds struggle above this |
| 17,400 Hz | Most people under 25 | The famous “mosquito tone” |
| 19,000 Hz | Most people under 20 | Teenagers and children |
| 20,000 Hz | Some children | Top of the human hearing range |
Understand your results
What each test frequency means
An audiogram shows how loud each pitch has to be before you hear it. Different frequencies carry different parts of speech and sound.
Frequencies and speech
- 250 and 500 Hz carry vowels, deep voices and bass. Low-frequency loss is less common.
- 1,000 Hz holds much of the energy and rhythm of speech.
- 2,000 Hz helps separate similar words and understand speech in noise.
- 4,000 and 8,000 Hz carry consonants like s, f, th and sh. Noise damage and ageing usually show up here first.
Degrees of hearing loss
- Clinics measure hearing in dB HL on calibrated equipment. Up to 25 dB HL is generally considered normal or slight.
- Mild is 26 to 40 dB HL, moderate 41 to 55, moderately severe 56 to 70, severe 71 to 90 and profound above 90.
- This online test cannot measure dB HL, because your device volume is unknown. It shows the shape of your hearing and differences between ears.
- A flat, balanced chart is reassuring. A dip at high frequencies or one weaker ear is worth checking properly.
Next steps
When to see a hearing professional
Signs worth checking
- You often ask people to repeat themselves, especially in noisy places.
- Others say the TV or your music is too loud.
- One ear seems weaker, or this test shows a big difference between ears.
- You have ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus). Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears is a medical emergency, so see a doctor straight away.
Protect the hearing you have
- Keep headphone volume moderate and take listening breaks. A common rule of thumb is no more than 60% volume for 60 minutes at a time.
- Wear earplugs at concerts, clubs and when using power tools.
- Check how loud your surroundings are with our decibel meter. Long exposure above 85 dB can cause damage.
- Repeat this test every few months with the same headphones and volume to spot changes early.
FAQ
Hearing test: frequently asked questions
Is an online hearing test accurate?
It is a useful screening tool, not a diagnosis. Results depend on your headphones, volume setting and room noise, so the levels are relative rather than calibrated. It is good at spotting differences between ears and high-frequency drops, and at tracking changes over time with the same setup.
What is a hearing age test?
A hearing age test finds the highest pitch you can hear and compares it with the typical limit for different ages. It is a fun rough guide, because high-frequency hearing naturally declines with age, but it does not measure how well you hear speech.
What frequencies can humans hear?
Young people can usually hear from about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The upper limit gradually falls with age, often to around 15,000 Hz by middle age and lower later in life. Speech mostly uses 250 Hz to 8,000 Hz.
Should I use headphones or speakers?
Use headphones. They block room noise and let the test play tones into one ear at a time. Speakers mix both channels in the room, so the left and right ear test will not work properly.
What does it mean if one ear is worse than the other?
First swap your headphones around and test again, as one earcup may simply be quieter. If the same ear is still weaker by 15 dB or more at several frequencies, it is worth having a professional hearing test, since uneven hearing can have treatable causes such as earwax.
Why can’t I hear the high frequency tones?
High-frequency hearing declines naturally with age and can also be reduced by years of loud noise. However, many speakers and earbuds cannot reproduce tones above about 16,000 Hz, so your equipment may be the limit.
How often should I test my hearing?
An online check every few months is a simple way to spot changes. Many hearing organisations suggest a professional hearing test every few years for adults, and more often after age 50 or if you are exposed to loud noise.
Is this hearing test safe for my ears?
Yes, when you set a comfortable volume first. The tones are short and mostly quiet, and they fade in and out smoothly. Stop and lower the volume if any tone is uncomfortable.
Check your hearing in five minutes
Put on your headphones, find your hearing age and see how your left and right ears compare. Free, private and no sign-up.
Start the hearing test