Free · in your browser
How old are your ears?
A tone climbs from 8 to 20 kHz: press the key the moment it’s gone. The highest tone you still hear shows roughly how old your ears sound – in about two minutes with headphones, right here in your browser, and nothing is uploaded. A rough estimate for curiosity, not a medical test.
FreeIn your browserNothing uploadedAbout 2 min
Hearing age test
8–20 kHz · SineReady
8.0 kHz
Headphones on, volume down. Then press Start.
On a Mac, TONO tunes every app to your ears. High tones fade first, and over the years the change reaches the range of voices and cymbals. TONO’s hearing test measures each ear from 500 Hz to 12 kHz with your headphones and gently lifts what you hear less – in Spotify, YouTube, calls and every other app.
Before you startTurn the volume down first, then set it on the first tone: clear, but not loud. No tone in the test is louder than that one, and you can stop at any time. Headphones work best: phone and laptop speakers often can’t play the highest tones.
How the test works
- Volume down, headphones on. Wired or Bluetooth headphones give the most honest result. On an iPhone, switch off silent mode if you hear nothing.
- Set the level on the first tone. The test fades in a tone at 8 kHz. Turn your volume until it’s clear but comfortable. Every tone after it plays at the same level, never louder.
- Press when it’s gone. The tone climbs to 12 kHz in four seconds, then slowly to 20 kHz over half a minute. Press the key – or Space – the moment you can’t hear it anymore. The test allows for your reaction time and for the delay of Bluetooth headphones.
- Your ear age. The highest tone you still heard becomes a rough ear-age band. Test each ear on its own if you like: ears often differ.
What your result means
The highest tone you can hear drops with age. These are the rules of thumb behind the popular hearing age tests – averages with a wide spread, not clinical norms:
| Highest tone you hear | Typical for |
|---|---|
| 19 kHz and above | under 20 |
| 17.4–19 kHz | under 25 – 17.4 kHz is the “mosquito tone” |
| 16–17.4 kHz | under 30 |
| 15–16 kHz | under 40 |
| 14–15 kHz | under 50 |
| 12–14 kHz | under 60 |
| below 12 kHz | 60 and over |
Two people of the same age can be several kilohertz apart, and your headphones, your volume and even the room move the result. Treat it as a snapshot, and repeat it with the same headphones if you want to compare.
Why high tones fade first
Inside the cochlea, the hair cells that pick up the highest frequencies sit right at its entrance, where every sound passes by. They wear out first – with age (presbycusis) and from loud sound. The loss starts above what music needs and, over the years, creeps down toward 4–8 kHz, where consonants like “s” and “f”, cymbals and the air in a recording live. That’s why voices can sound dull long before anyone notices a hearing problem.
The best protection is level and time: WHO and ITU guidance for personal listening is about 80 dB for no more than 40 hours a week. On a Mac, TONO’s free Hearing Guard estimates that dose for your ears and can cap the volume.
Your ears on a Mac
A hearing age test only shows where the top end stops. TONO’s hearing test goes further: in about five minutes with your headphones it finds how quietly you still hear seven tones per ear, from 500 Hz to 12 kHz, and its hearing profile then gently lifts what you hear less – per ear, in every app. TONO is free to download; the hearing profile is part of TONO Pro, and every Mac starts with one day of Pro.
- Feature · SoundProHearing test and personal EQFive minutes with your headphones, then every app sounds tuned to your ears.
- Feature · SoundFree + ProSystem-wide equalizerOne EQ for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, games and calls – ten faders free, 24 bands in Pro.
Not a medical test
ImportantThis test is for curiosity, not diagnosis. It isn’t calibrated and only shows where the top end stops, not how quietly you hear. If you notice a sudden change in your hearing, ringing that doesn’t stop, or trouble following conversations, see an audiologist or an ear, nose and throat doctor.
Questions
How accurate is an online hearing test?
It shows a trend, not a diagnosis. Your browser, headphones and volume aren’t calibrated, so the result can move by a kilohertz or more between devices. With the same headphones and volume, it’s good for comparing yourself over time or with friends.
Why can’t I hear the highest tones on my phone?
Small speakers in phones and laptops often stop playing somewhere above 15 kHz, and some Bluetooth connections cut the very top as well. If your result seems low, try again with wired headphones or good earbuds.
What is the mosquito tone?
A high tone around 17.4 kHz. Many teenagers hear it clearly, while most adults over 25 hear it faintly or not at all, which made it a viral test. In this test it’s the line between “under 25” and “under 30”.
Is the test safe for my ears?
Yes, if you start quiet. The first tone fades in, you set the level on it, and no tone after it is louder. Don’t turn the volume up while the tone climbs: when it fades, that’s your result. You can stop at any time.
Does this page record or upload anything?
No. The tones are made in your browser, nothing is recorded, and your result isn’t stored or sent anywhere. The image to share is drawn on your device. The page sets no cookies and has no analytics.
Why is my result different on each ear?
That’s common: ears age and get exposed to noise differently, from a phone always held to one side to a loud concert on your left. A difference of a kilohertz or two is normal; TONO’s hearing profile on a Mac corrects each ear on its own.
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