BTSPACE WAGLE
    한 한국어

    Devices & Audio

    Hearing Age Group Test

    Listen to a reference tone for each age group

    Play any frequency and check your hearing for fun.

    Use the toolHow it works

    Start with the volume very low. A sudden loud sound with earphones in can hurt your ears.

    Sound differs between earphones and speakers, so the result is for fun and reference only. This is not a medical hearing test.

    How to use the tone generator and hearing test

    1. On the "Tone generator" tab, set a frequency with the slider or number and press Play. You can also change the waveform and volume.
    2. On the "Hearing age group test" tab, first set a comfortable volume with a 1,000 Hz tone, then reference tones are played step by step from 8,000 Hz to 18,500 Hz. Press "I hear it" if you can and "I cannot" if not.
    3. The last frequency you heard and its age group (60s+, 50s, 40s, 30s, 20s, Teens) are shown. You can also pick and play the reference tone for each age group.

    Frequency and hearing

    The pitch of a sound is expressed as its frequency in hertz (Hz), the number of vibrations per second. 440 Hz is the A4 reference pitch in music and 1,000 Hz is a common broadcast test tone. The human range of hearing is generally given as about 20 to 20,000 Hz, and speech mostly sits between a few hundred and a few thousand Hz.

    With age, the sensory cells in the cochlea wear down and high pitches become hard to hear first. That is why a for-fun test linking the highest audible frequency to an age group is widely known. This tool plays six steps in order, 8,000, 12,000, 14,000, 16,000, 17,400 and 18,500 Hz, and shows the age group matching the last tone you heard.

    Ways to use a tone generator

    A tone generator can be used to check whether speakers or earphones reproduce low and high pitches, to hear a reference pitch for tuning an instrument, or for ear training and study. A sine wave is the purest sound; square, triangle and sawtooth waves contain overtones and sound sharper or rougher.

    Listening to loud sound, especially high frequencies, through earphones for long can tire or damage your ears. Start with the volume low, raise it slowly and stop at once if it is uncomfortable. If you have pets, high-frequency sounds can stress them, so be careful.

    How to get a more accurate result

    • Do it in a quiet room.
    • Use earphones or headphones and keep the volume the same throughout.
    • High frequencies are reproduced differently by each device, so results can vary.
    • Try several times and look at the general trend.
    • Stop immediately if you feel any discomfort in your ears.

    FAQ

    What frequencies can humans hear?

    A healthy young person is generally said to hear from about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. With age, high pitches usually fade first, so many adults hear up to roughly 15,000 to 17,000 Hz.

    What is the "mosquito tone" at 17.4 kHz?

    It is a high tone of about 17,400 Hz that teenagers can hear but adults often cannot. Hearing it does not tell your exact age, and it also depends on how well your device can play it.

    I cannot hear a tone. Is there a problem with my hearing?

    You cannot conclude that. Speakers and earphones often play high frequencies weakly, and volume and background noise matter. If everyday sounds are hard to hear or you have ongoing ringing in your ears, get a proper test from an ear doctor.

    Notes & limitations

    This tool plays sounds and offers a for-fun reference test; it is not a medical hearing test. If you suspect hearing loss, get tested at a medical facility. Do not play at high volume.