How Well Can You Hear? Test Your Frequency Range

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on testing the human frequency range using specific sound files at frequencies of 15,102Hz, 16,000Hz, 16,961Hz, and 17,959Hz. Participants reported varying abilities to hear these frequencies, with many noting that age and exposure to loud music can diminish high-frequency hearing. The discussion also highlights the importance of sound system quality and individual ear sensitivity in hearing tests. Additionally, some users shared personal experiences related to hearing loss and the impact of environmental noise on their results.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of human auditory frequency ranges
  • Familiarity with sound file formats and playback devices
  • Knowledge of factors affecting hearing, such as age and noise exposure
  • Basic comprehension of sound sensitivity versus sound power
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the effects of aging on hearing sensitivity
  • Explore tools for measuring frequency response in audio equipment
  • Investigate the relationship between asthma and auditory perception
  • Learn about soundproofing techniques to minimize environmental noise during hearing tests
USEFUL FOR

Audio engineers, audiologists, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the nuances of human hearing and sound perception.

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Which ones can u hear?

1. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/15102Hz.wav"

2. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/16000Hz.wav"

3. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/16961Hz.wav"

4. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/17959Hz.wav"

All links came from http://saunderslog.com/2006/06/12/the-mosquito-ring-tone-this-adult-can-hear-it/"
 
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Couldn't hear the last one :(
 
Silence on all.
 
Can here all of them although the lowest frequency was rather uncomfortable.
 
I only heard the first two, nr.2 barely.
 
I could hear all I've surprised myself.
 
Generally I believe as you get older your ability to hear high frequency sounds diminishes, although I couldn't hear high frequency noises other kids could when I was younger, and no doubt I still can't now. I'll have to test it later, no sound card here.
 
I only heard the first one. A few days ago there was a commercial on tv: "silent ring tone! you're teacher won't hear your cell phone going off in class!" .. I couldn't hear it either :frown:
 
I could hear them all easily, maybe I didn't do it properly!
 
  • #10
fi said:
I could hear them all easily, maybe I didn't do it properly!

No, the ability to hear high frequencies reduces with age (or with rock music).
 
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  • #11
I could not hear any of them. Of course it will also depend on the the capabilities of your sound system as well as the SENSITIVITY (not power!) of your ears.
 
  • #12
I can hear all of them, but only the last one if I increase the volume. This reminds me of the Mosquito ringtone story.
 
  • #13
I could only hear the first 2...I wish I could have heard the other two...would this have any affect on the music each person would hear when they hear an orchestra? like, someone hearing all 4, would they hear more or less music/noise from an orchestra...
 
  • #14
Most instruments and musical compositions I know of fall a fair way short of the maximum frequency the human ear can pick up. Even when we age and lose a fair chunk of the top range it will still not effect what you hear in an orchestra. There was an example of what older and younger people hear that I came across some time ago in relation to things in everyday life. this was an example of a train approaching a tube station and it had the a young persons aural perspective then an old persons with all the top frequecies removed. Its not accurate to individuals but gives you some idea of what its like. I'll try and find it on the web.

Another interesting thing I noticed is that i can hear a high pitched whine from most electrical equipment in the background most of the time when its switched on. Obviously most electrical appliances these days operate at high frequencies. How many also hear this background whine of electrical equipment?
 
  • #15
Can't really find that demonstration but I did find a page with the frequency range of various instruments etc if anyone was interested.

http://www.listenhear.co.uk/general_acoustics.htm
 
  • #16
I could hear the first one, and the second one, barely, but whether I could hear either or not depends on how much other noise is going on outside (I kept pressing play just as some other noise started up ). I'll have to give it a try with external speakers and away from the fan motor of the computer before I report final results.
 
  • #17
I can only hear the first one, but my hearing aid detects the second. Although it detects, I hear nothing.
 
  • #18
siddharth said:
No, the ability to hear high frequencies reduces with age (or with rock music).
thanks siddharth for implying I'm young, but I'm not really, and I've been to plenty of concerts. Also, I've never really thought I have good hearing -I have trouble hearing people talk at parties with loud music - or perhaps I actually prefer listeneing to the music!
 
  • #19
Monique said:
I only heard the first one. A few days ago there was a commercial on tv: "silent ring tone! you're teacher won't hear your cell phone going off in class!" .. I couldn't hear it either :frown:
yeah, that's the "mosquito"
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=123901
 
  • #20
It is said that asthmatics tend to have a higher hearing range than normal.

None come through on my laptop speaker (though I suppose they did and I wouldn't know it...)

I downloaded the app listed on the blog and tried it. I can hear up to 14750 (on my laptop speakers). It is very dependent on testing conditions. The files posted are way too short to get a good sound. At first I couldn't hear them, but the moment I moved my head I could. I was in a "node".



This would be a cool test to post and log the results...
 
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  • #21
Doh. My laptop speaker is definitely working...

My 20 year old son - who listens to very loud music on headphones - doing a blind test, could hear reliably up to 16,800Hz!
 
  • #22
  • #23
PIT2 said:
Which ones can u hear?

1. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/15102Hz.wav"

2. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/16000Hz.wav"

3. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/16961Hz.wav"

4. http://www.saunderslog.com/wp-content/sounds/17959Hz.wav"

All links came from http://saunderslog.com/2006/06/12/the-mosquito-ring-tone-this-adult-can-hear-it/"
All of them!
 
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  • #24
Just on a side note, perhaps the word "sensitive" rather than "powerful" would be a better option for describing ones hearing ability. :wink:
 
  • #25
I can't hear the last one:( But I'm going to blame it on my speakers. On that note, it actually could be my speakers...
 
  • #26
Okay, final results for me...sitting in a quiet corner, with my ear pressed against the speaker, I can hear all four in my left ear, and only the first in my right ear (barely). I've suspected my hearing in my left ear is better than in my right ear for a while now, and this really demonstrated it. I can tell the speakers are working because there's a click at the beginning and end that I do hear. I don't know if that's something the speakers do when they turn on and off, or something in the clip itself.

More than an inch or two from the speakers, I can only hear the first one, and sometimes the second, but not reliably...I need to be pretty close to hear it, so just a little difference in distance and I can't.
 
  • #27
i can hear them all fairly easily actually, do you happen to have links to higher frequencies? I'm curious to see how high i can go =P

that kind of surprised me because my ears are constantly bombarded with incredibly loud music and I have that *sounds are muffled because I've just been blasted by way-too-loud" music effect like 4 times a week, and even more often in the past

edit - I went to the link in the OP and downloaded the software he used to generate the sounds, unfortunutely I think the software is buggy or otherwise flawed, since past 18khz the tone seems to get deeper... in fact I was hearing the tone all the way up at like 125khz lol so... if anyone could help me out that would be great.
 
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  • #28
Moonbear said:
Okay, final results for me...sitting in a quiet corner, with my ear pressed against the speaker, I can hear all four in my left ear, and only the first in my right ear (barely).
Moonbear, are you sure you're hearing the actual tones and not some other sort of sound? The tones up there should not sound like anything so much as they should feel like someone sticking a needle in your eardrum.
 
  • #29
You know... I wonder if that's why I've been feeling pukey for the last hour. Anyone else feel a bit yucky after this experiment?

[EDIT] Moonbear's got the right idea. If I move my laptop in relation to my head, and get close enough, I can hear all the way up to 16,000Hz. That's way better than the 14,750 I measured earlier today.

If you were to test various people, you would want to carefully control the test conditions.
 
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  • #30
I could only hear the first two through my ear buds. I only heard clicks with the other two.
 

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