Hearing Test & Tone Generator
Play any frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, then take the high-frequency hearing test to estimate your hearing age - all in your browser
Turn your volume down before you start. High-frequency tones can be uncomfortable, and loud sound can damage your hearing. Begin low and raise the volume gradually.
Tone generator
Hearing age test
Results depend heavily on your speakers or headphones, volume and surroundings. Use good headphones in a quiet room for the most consistent test.
Play each frequency from low to high and mark whether you can hear it. The highest pitch you can still hear is used to estimate your hearing age.
This tool is for entertainment and curiosity only and is not a medical device or a hearing diagnosis. Results vary with your equipment and environment. If you are worried about your hearing, please consult an audiologist or doctor.
About this tool
This page combines two things: a precise tone generator and a high-frequency hearing test. The tone generator plays a clean sine wave at any frequency from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, the range of normal human hearing. Drag the slider or type an exact value, and the tool shows the matching musical note and how many cents it is sharp or flat. The hearing test plays a series of high pitches from 8 kHz up to 20 kHz. You listen to each one and mark whether you can hear it; the highest frequency you can still hear gives a playful estimate of your "hearing age," because the ability to hear very high frequencies naturally fades as we get older. Everything runs locally in your browser using the Web Audio API - no audio is recorded or uploaded.
How to use
- 1 Turn your volume down first, then put on headphones for the most reliable results.
- 2 Use the tone generator: drag the slider or type a frequency, then press Play to hear that exact pitch.
- 3 For the hearing test, play each frequency from low to high and press "Heard it" or "Can't hear" for each.
- 4 Read your estimated hearing age from the highest frequency you marked as heard, and reset to try again.
How it works
The tones are generated with the Web Audio API, which creates a mathematically pure sine wave at the exact frequency you choose, with a short fade-in and fade-out to avoid clicks. The note name comes from the equal-tempered scale, where A4 = 440 Hz and each octave doubles the frequency; the cents value shows how far the pitch sits from the nearest named note. The hearing-age estimate uses a simple lookup: younger ears can typically hear up to around 17-20 kHz, while the upper limit drops with age, so hearing up to 15 kHz suggests roughly your 40s and 8-10 kHz suggests 60+. These are broad averages, not a precise measurement - your real result also depends on your headphones, volume and the noise around you.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a real medical hearing test?
No. This is a fun, simplified test that estimates the highest pitch you can hear in your current setup. It is not a medical device, does not diagnose hearing loss, and should not replace a proper test by an audiologist. If you have any concerns about your hearing, please see a professional.
Why does my result change on different devices?
Speakers and headphones reproduce high frequencies very differently, and many small or cheap speakers can't play above about 15-17 kHz at all. Background noise and your volume setting also matter. For the most consistent result, use quality headphones in a quiet room and keep the volume moderate.
Can the hearing age really tell me how old I am?
Not literally. The ability to hear very high frequencies tends to decline with age, so it gives a rough, playful guess. Hearing, lifelong noise exposure and individual differences vary a lot, so treat the number as entertainment rather than a real measurement of your age or health.
Is it safe to listen to these tones?
At a moderate volume, yes. But loud sound - especially sustained high-frequency tones close to your ears - can be uncomfortable or harmful. Always start with the volume low and raise it slowly, and stop immediately if a tone feels painful or unpleasant.
I can't hear the highest frequencies at all - is something wrong?
Often not. Many adults naturally lose the very top of their hearing range, and many speakers simply can't reproduce those pitches. It is usually normal. That said, if you notice a sudden change, ringing, or trouble hearing everyday sounds, please consult a doctor or audiologist.
Related tools and uses
Musicians use the tone generator to tune instruments and check pitch against a reference; the note and cents readout pairs naturally with a tuner. Curious listeners and students use the hearing test to explore how frequency, pitch and perception work, and it's a fun way to learn the physics of sound. Try it alongside our other audio and science tools to see how units like hertz translate into something you can actually hear.