Listen to tones that climb from 8 kHz to 22 kHz and answer after each one. You get the highest pitch you heard and a rough hearing-age range. Test each ear and save the result as an image.
Tone 1 of 14
8,000
Hz (8 kHz)
How your range compares with animals
🧑
Humans (young adults)
Up to about 20,000 Hz
🐶
Dogs
Up to about 45,000 Hz
🐱
Cats
Up to about 64,000 Hz
🦇
Bats and dolphins
100,000 Hz and above
Approximate figures. Hearing range varies by species and by individual.
Ear to test
Volume
Use headphones or earbuds instead of built-in speakers, and start with your device volume low. The sound check plays a normal-pitch tone so you can set a comfortable level and confirm the left and right channels.
Frequency vs. age range
What Is a Mosquito Tone, and Why Does Age Change What You Hear?
Hearing range narrows with age, and the highest pitches go first. Young people are often said to hear up to about 20 kHz, while many adults stop hearing well below that. A tone near 17 kHz has picked up the nickname mosquito tone because it is a thin, high whine that younger people notice easily and many older people miss.
This test plays 14 pure tones one at a time, from 8,000 Hz up to 22,000 Hz, each for about 2.6 seconds. After each tone you answer whether you heard it. The test stops at the first tone you miss, and your result is the last tone you did hear. A rough hearing-age range is shown next to it, based on the chart further down this page.
You can test both ears together, the left ear only or the right ear only, and save the result as a PNG image. The Tone Player lets you hold any pitch between 8 and 22 kHz. This is a game-style check, not a medical hearing test.
Ways to Use It: Party Game, Earbud Check, Quick Share
Compare ears with friends or family
Take turns and see who hears the highest tone. Comparing a teenager, a parent and a grandparent usually makes the age effect obvious.
Check how high your earbuds can play
If you hear a tone on one pair of earbuds but not on another, the difference may come from the hardware. Keep in mind that the result also depends on your ears, so use it only as a rough comparison.
Post your result
Save the result as an image and send it to a group chat or post it online. It shows your highest tone, the ear tested and the hearing-age range.
Take a one-minute break
A full step test takes about a minute or two. It works as a short break between tasks, and there is nothing to set up.
How to Find the Highest Pitch You Can Hear in 5 Steps
- Put on earbuds or headphones and set your device volume low. Use the 1 kHz sound check to pick a comfortable level.
- Choose which ear to test: both ears, left ear or right ear.
- Press Play this tone. Each tone lasts about 2.6 seconds, starting at 8,000 Hz and moving higher.
- Answer I heard it or I didn't hear it. Use Play it again if you missed the tone.
- The test ends at the first tone you miss, or after 22,000 Hz. Check your result, then tap Save as image to download a PNG.
Note: Run the test once for each ear if you want to compare them. If a tone is hard to hear, answer that you did not hear it instead of raising the volume again and again.
Before You Start: Volume, Headphones and Limits
- This is not a medical hearing test. The age ranges are rough guides based on commonly cited patterns and are for fun only.
- What you hear depends on your device, your earbuds or speakers and the noise in the room. Getting a different result on a different setup is normal.
- Many built-in laptop and phone speakers cannot play the highest pitches well. Use earbuds or headphones for a fairer result.
- Loud, high-pitched sound can strain your ears. Start with the volume low and do not keep raising it to catch a tone you cannot hear.
- If you notice ringing in your ears, trouble following conversations or a big difference between your ears, see a doctor or audiologist, whatever this tool shows.
Hearing Age Chart: Highest Tone Heard vs. Age Range
The ranges used by this tool. They are rough, commonly cited patterns, and individual results vary a lot, so treat them as a game, not a measurement.
| Highest tone you heard | Age range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 19,000 Hz and up | Teens | The very top of the range. Fewer people hear it as they get older. |
| 17,000 to 18,000 Hz | Late teens to early 20s | The classic mosquito tone range. |
| 16,000 to 16,500 Hz | 20s | A range many younger listeners can still hear. |
| 15,000 to 15,500 Hz | Late 20s to 30s | Results start to vary a lot from person to person. |
| 14,000 Hz | 30s | More people stop hearing tones around here. |
| 12,000 to 13,000 Hz | Late 30s to 40s | Well above the pitches used in everyday speech. |
| 10,000 Hz | Late 40s to 50s | Individual differences are large in this range. |
| 8,000 Hz | Late 50s to 60s+ | Still higher than most pitches in normal speech. |
| Below 8,000 Hz | Not rated | You did not hear the first tone. Try again with headphones in a quiet room. |
How to read the chart
The step test only plays the frequencies listed above, so your result will always be one of those values. The age ranges are not a diagnosis.
- Individual differences: The highest pitch a person hears varies from one person to the next, so age alone does not decide it.
- Equipment and noise: Earbud quality, fit and background sound can change the result for the same person.
- Everyday hearing: Most speech sits at much lower pitches, roughly between 500 and 4,000 Hz, so missing a very high tone does not tell you how well you follow conversations.
Why High Pitches Fade First: Background on the 17 kHz Tone
Where the 17 kHz tone comes from, why the highest pitches are the first to fade, and how to get a fairer reading.
Where the 17 kHz tone comes from
People use the name mosquito tone for a thin, high whine at about 17,000 Hz. Devices sold as Mosquito anti-loitering alarms have used a tone in this region, aimed at teenagers who hear it more easily than adults. It also spread as a pitch people play for each other to see who can hear it.
Why the highest pitches fade first
Age-related hearing loss typically shows up at the highest pitches first, and loud noise over the years can add to it. That is why a very high tone makes a good game: young listeners and older listeners often give different answers.
Getting a fairer reading
Three things matter most. Use earbuds or headphones rather than built-in speakers. Test in a quiet room, since background noise can cover a faint tone. Keep the volume moderate, because raising it very high can hurt and does not make the test more accurate. Poor conditions can make you miss a tone you could actually hear.
High tones vs. everyday speech
Most of the sound in speech sits roughly between 500 and 4,000 Hz. The tones in this test, from 8,000 to 22,000 Hz, are far higher. Missing a 17 kHz tone does not mean you have a problem following conversation. If you do struggle to follow conversations, book a hearing test with a doctor or audiologist.
Common Mistakes That Skew Your Result
Testing on laptop or phone speakers
Small built-in speakers often cannot play the highest pitches. The tone is simply not coming out, so you answer that you did not hear it and the result looks lower than it should.
💡 See the solution▼
Testing with background noise
A TV, a fan or people talking can cover a faint high tone, and your result comes out lower than your real range.
💡 See the solution▼
Turning the volume up when you cannot hear a tone
When a tone is hard to hear it is tempting to raise the volume again and again. Loud, high-pitched sound can strain your ears and cause temporary ringing.
💡 See the solution▼
Treating one run as the final word
One run is a game, not a measurement. Taking it as proof that your hearing is fine, or not fine, can lead you to ignore a real problem.
💡 See the solution▼
FAQ: 17 kHz, Earbuds, Left vs. Right Ear and Safety
Q.What frequency is the mosquito tone?
A. The mosquito tone usually means a very high, thin pitch around 17,000 Hz (17 kHz). Younger listeners tend to hear it as a faint whine, and many adults cannot hear it at all. This tool plays 17,000 Hz as part of its step test, and you can also hold it in the Tone Player.
Q.Is this a real hearing test?
A. No. It is a game-style check for fun, not a medical hearing test. The result depends on your headphones or speakers, your device volume and the noise around you, and the age ranges are rough guides, not diagnoses. If you have trouble hearing, ringing in your ears or a big difference between your ears, see a doctor or audiologist.
Q.How does the test work out my result?
A. The step test plays 14 tones one at a time, from 8,000 Hz up to 22,000 Hz, each for about 2.6 seconds. After each tone you answer whether you heard it. The test stops at the first tone you did not hear, and your result is the last tone you did hear. If you hear all 14, the result is 22,000 Hz. If you miss the very first tone, the result is shown as below 8,000 Hz.
Q.Should I use earbuds or speakers?
A. Use earbuds or headphones. Many laptop and phone speakers cannot play the highest pitches well, so you may hear nothing even though your ears could pick the tone up. Choose a quiet room and keep the volume moderate.
Q.Why does one ear hear higher tones than the other?
A. A small difference between ears is common. Earbud fit, background noise and how you feel that day can all change what you hear. If one ear is much worse than the other, or the difference does not go away, talk to a doctor no matter what this tool shows.
Q.Can loud high-pitched tones hurt my ears?
A. They can. Loud sound, especially through earbuds, can strain your ears and may cause temporary ringing. This tool caps its maximum output level, but you should still start with your device volume low and never keep turning it up to catch a tone you cannot hear. If a tone is uncomfortable, stop.
Q.Is my result sent anywhere?
A. No. The tones are generated in your browser with the Web Audio API, and your answers and results stay on your device. The result image is created in your browser and downloaded to your device.
Q.How do I save or share my result?
A. After the step test, tap Save as image to download a PNG that shows your highest tone, ear tested and hearing-age range. You can post that file in a group chat or on social media.
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