Hearing Test
Check how well each ear hears low, middle and high pitches. Tones get louder step by step until you hear them, and your results are drawn on an audiogram. A frequency sweep shows the highest pitch you can still hear.
1. Set your volume
Use wired or good Bluetooth headphones in a quiet room. Play the reference tone and set your device volume so it sounds clear but comfortable, like normal speech. Don't change the volume during the test.
2. Choose what to test
Tones start very quietly and get 5 dB louder every 1.5 seconds. Press I hear it (or the Space bar) as soon as you hear the beeps.
Your audiogram
Estimate only: values are relative to your volume setting, not a calibrated clinical audiogram. If you notice hearing changes, see an audiologist.
Find the highest pitch you can hear. A tone sweeps upward; press I can't hear it anymore the moment it disappears. Hearing above about 15 kHz naturally fades with age.
How to use the Hearing Test
- Put on headphones in a quiet room and use Left only / Right only to check the channels.
- Play the reference tone and set your device volume so it sounds clear and comfortable. Keep it there for the whole test.
- Press Start hearing test. For each tone, press I hear it (or Space) as soon as you hear the quiet beeps.
- Read your audiogram: points near the top mean good hearing, points lower down mean you needed a louder tone.
- Try the frequency sweep to find the highest pitch you can hear, and download your audiogram if you want to keep it.
How the test works
For each ear and frequency, the tool plays three short beeps, starting very quietly at −85 dB relative to full scale and getting 5 dB louder every 1.5 seconds. The level at which you first press I hear it is your threshold. This ascending approach is a simplified version of the method audiologists use (the modified Hughson-Westlake procedure), which also tests 1000 Hz first and then moves up and down the frequency range.
Because your headphones and volume aren't calibrated, the tool converts each threshold into an estimated hearing level: it assumes the reference tone (−20 dBFS at 1 kHz) is set to a comfortable speech level of about 60 dB, and corrects each frequency by the normal threshold of hearing from ISO 226 (for example, normal ears need about 9 dB more sound pressure at 250 Hz than at 1 kHz, and about 8 dB less at 4 kHz).
Hearing level categories
| Hearing level | Category | What it can feel like |
|---|---|---|
| −10 to 25 dB | Normal | Hears whispers and soft speech |
| 26 to 40 dB | Mild | Soft speech and speech in noise are hard to follow |
| 41 to 55 dB | Moderate | Normal conversation is difficult without hearing aids |
| 56 to 70 dB | Moderately severe | Only loud speech is heard |
| 71 to 90 dB | Severe | Speech is not heard without amplification |
| Above 90 dB | Profound | Very loud sounds may be felt rather than heard |
The pure-tone average (PTA) is the mean of the thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. Example: 10, 15, 20 and 35 dB give (10 + 15 + 20 + 35) ÷ 4 = 20 dB, which is in the normal range, even though 4 kHz alone is mildly reduced.
Upper hearing limit by age
| Highest audible frequency | Typical for |
|---|---|
| 17 – 20 kHz | Children, teenagers and people under about 25 |
| 15 – 17 kHz | Adults up to about 40 |
| 12 – 15 kHz | Adults around 40 to 60 |
| 8 – 12 kHz | Many people over 60 |
These are rough averages; noise exposure from concerts, power tools or loud headphones can lower the limit at any age. Protect your hearing by keeping headphone volume below about 60% and taking breaks from loud sound.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is an online hearing test?
It is a screening estimate, not a diagnosis. A clinical audiogram uses calibrated headphones in a sound booth, so the exact decibel values here depend on your device, headphones and volume setting. It is good at showing patterns, such as one ear being weaker or hearing dropping at high frequencies, and at tracking changes if you always use the same setup.
What do the audiogram symbols mean?
Audiograms traditionally mark the right ear with a red O and the left ear with a blue X. Frequency runs from low pitches on the left to high pitches on the right, and hearing level runs from good hearing at the top to louder thresholds lower down. A down arrow means you didn't hear the tone even at the loudest level.
What is a normal result?
Thresholds up to about 25 dB hearing level are considered normal. 26–40 dB is mild hearing loss, 41–55 dB moderate, 56–70 dB moderately severe, 71–90 dB severe and above 90 dB profound. The tool averages 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz for each ear, which is the pure-tone average used by many clinics.
Why can't I hear the highest frequencies?
Sensitivity above about 12–15 kHz declines naturally with age (presbycusis), starting in your twenties. Many headphones and phone speakers also roll off above 15–16 kHz, so a low sweep result can be your equipment rather than your ears.
What volume should I use?
Set the reference tone to a clear, comfortable level, similar to normal speech, and don't change the volume afterwards. Never turn the volume up to painful levels; stop the test if a tone is uncomfortable.
Should I see a doctor?
Yes, if the test suggests a loss, a big difference between your ears, ringing in the ears, or if you have noticed trouble understanding speech. Sudden hearing loss in one ear is a medical emergency and should be checked by a doctor within a day or two.