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[3] [4] [note 1] Under ideal laboratory conditions, humans can hear sound as low as 12 Hz [8] and as high as 28 kHz, though the threshold increases sharply at 15 kHz in adults, corresponding to the last auditory channel of the cochlea. [9] The human auditory system is most sensitive to frequencies between 2,000 and 5,000 Hz. [10]
Key Takeaways: Human hearing spans from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Hearing conversation in noise is challenging, especially when the noise has a similar frequency to human speech.
The frequencies an ear can hear are limited to a specific range of frequencies. The audible frequency range for humans is typically given as being between about 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (20 kHz), though the high frequency limit usually reduces with age.
It is approximately the quietest sound a young human with undamaged hearing can detect at 1 kHz. [4] The threshold of hearing is frequency-dependent and it has been shown that the ear's sensitivity is best at frequencies between 2 kHz and 5 kHz, [5] where the threshold reaches as low as −9 dB SPL. [6] [7] [8]
In addition, noisy places can cause us to turn the volume up high to be heard over the background noise. To keep the volume at a safe level, limit the volume to 60-70% of the maximum volume.
Binaural localization, however, was possible with lower frequencies. This is likely due to the pinna being small enough to only interact with sound waves of high frequency. [19] It seems that people can only accurately localize the elevation of sounds that are complex and include frequencies above 7,000 Hz, and a pinna must be present. [20]
A cat can hear high-frequency sounds up to two octaves higher than a human. Not all sounds are normally audible to all animals. Each species has a range of normal hearing for both amplitude and frequency. Many animals use sound to communicate with each other, and hearing in these species is particularly important for survival and reproduction.
Noise canceling headphones can help keep your volume within a safe range, so you don’t have to crank up volume to hear ‘over’ the noise. And while over-the-ear headphones can help close off ...