Left and right
Check that both sides play and aren't swapped.
37 Create & Analyze
Hearing TestOnline hearing test and tone generator
Find out how high you can hear, generate tones from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and check your headphones.
1-minute test
How old are your ears?
Put on headphones, keep the volume low and listen to a series of tones, each one lower. For each, say whether you hear it. At the end you'll get a rough hearing age.
Best with headphones in a quiet place
Frequency sweep
20 Hz
It rises from low to high. Press as soon as you stop hearing it.
440 Hz
A4 ±0 cents
Bass
A 20 to 200 Hz sweep over 10 s to see how low they go.
Full range
From 20 Hz to 20 kHz in 15 s: listen for rattles or gaps.
Stereo balance
A tone that travels left to right and back.
Test reference
| Highest tone you hear | Approximate age |
|---|---|
| 17,500 Hz | 18–24 years |
| 16,500 Hz | 24–30 years |
| 15,500 Hz | 30–35 years |
| 15,000 Hz | 35–40 years |
| 14,000 Hz | 40–49 years |
| 13,000 Hz | 50–55 years |
| 12,000 Hz | 55–60 years |
| 10,000 Hz | 65–70 years |
| 8,000 Hz | 75+ years |
High-frequency hearing drops with age and noise exposure. It's a general trend, not a diagnosis.
Free · local processing · no account
Start at low volume. This is a rough guide, not a medical test: results depend on your headphones, volume and room noise.
Engines and licensesAbout Hearing Test
Four utilities in one: a test that estimates your hearing age from the highest tones you can hear, a frequency sweep, a tone generator from 20 Hz to 20 kHz with four waveforms and a speaker and headphone test. It's an indicative, just-for-fun tool: it doesn't replace a check-up with a hearing professional.
What you can do with it
- 01
Challenge your friends
Take turns and compare who can hear the highest tones. The result card makes it easy to share.
- 02
Test headphones and speakers
Check that left and right aren't swapped, how low the bass goes and whether anything rattles across the range.
- 03
Tune an instrument
Generate a reference note, like A at 440 Hz or 432 Hz, middle C or the guitar's low E, and tune by ear.
- 04
Science lessons
Show what frequency is, how the different waveforms sound and why not everyone hears the same highs.
How it works, in 3 steps
Get ready
Put on headphones, find a quiet spot and start with the volume low. First a 1,000 Hz tone plays to check you hear it well.
Answer each tone
The test plays tones getting lower from 17,500 Hz. For each one, say whether you hear it or not.
See your result
You'll see your approximate range and an indicative hearing age, which you can download as a card. If anything worries you, see a professional.
The four modes
Hearing age
A quick yes-or-no test with high tones that roughly estimates the age that matches your hearing.
Frequency sweep
A continuous tone moving from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, or the reverse, at three speeds. Mark the moment you stop hearing it.
Tone generator
Any frequency between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, with buttons to halve or double it, and the matching musical note. Download it as WAV.
Reference notes
Shortcuts to A4 (440 and 432 Hz), middle C, guitar E2, concert B♭4, 528 Hz, 100 Hz and 1 kHz.
Speaker test
Sound on the left channel only, the right only or both, plus a bass sweep, a full-range sweep and a stereo balance test.
Waveforms
Sine is a pure tone; square sounds hollow, sawtooth bright and triangle softer.
Tips for better results
- Start at low volume. This is a rough guide, not a medical test: results depend on your headphones, volume and room noise.
- Always start with low volume and raise it gradually: high tones can be unpleasant.
- Use headphones somewhere quiet; with speakers or background noise, the result is less reliable.
- Your gear matters too: many headphones and speakers reproduce the extremes poorly, so not hearing a tone isn't always your ears.
- For tuning, use the sine wave, the purest and easiest to compare with your instrument.
- If you notice hearing loss, ringing or discomfort, book an appointment with a professional: this test is only indicative.
Frequently asked questions
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It's an indicative, just-for-fun estimate, and the result depends on your headphones or speakers, the volume and background noise. For a reliable assessment, see a hearing professional who tests under controlled conditions.
What is hearing age?
An estimate based on the highest tone you can hear. With age it's common to stop perceiving the highest frequencies, and the test compares your result with that general trend.
Why can't I hear the highest tones?
It's very common: the upper limit drops naturally with age and with exposure to loud noise. Your gear matters too, since many headphones and speakers reproduce those frequencies poorly.
How do I use the tone generator?
Choose the waveform, set the frequency with the slider or by typing the exact number, adjust the volume and press play. The ÷2 and ×2 buttons go down or up an octave.
Can I tune an instrument with it?
Yes. Generate the reference note (standard A is 440 Hz) and tune until your instrument and the tone sound the same. The tool shows which note each frequency matches.
What is 432 Hz tuning?
An alternative reference where A is tuned to 432 Hz instead of 440 Hz. Some musicians prefer it by taste, and you can generate it with a single button.