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What range of frequencies can young human ears usually hear?
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audiology
Learn about the audiology department of the Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning, a nonprofit clinic at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
Young human ears are typically capable of hearing sound frequencies ranging from approximately 20 to 20,000 hertz (Hz).12
While this represents the full audible spectrum, human hearing is generally most sensitive to frequencies between 500 and 10,000 Hz. It is important to note that this range is not static; the ability to perceive higher frequencies often diminishes naturally as part of the aging process. In clinical settings, such as pure-tone audiometry, professionals typically assess hearing thresholds at discrete frequencies between 500 Hz and 8,000 Hz to evaluate auditory function.134