Mosquito Tone: Can You Hear This Sound? (Age Test Explained)

The “mosquito tone” is a high-pitched sound around 17 kHz. Most teenagers can hear it clearly. Most people over 25 cannot hear it at all. That simple fact has been used for ringtones, shop alarms and countless online challenges.

Why adults stop hearing high tones

Inside your inner ear, tiny hair cells turn sound into signals for the brain. The cells that handle the highest pitches sit at the entrance of the cochlea and take the most wear. As we age, and with loud noise, they are the first to go. This is called presbycusis, and it is completely normal.

Typical hearing limits

Everyone is different. Some adults hear far higher, and noise exposure can lower your limit early.

Try it yourself

Use our Hearing Age Test. It plays tones from 8 kHz upward and stops when you can no longer hear them. For a smooth sweep from bass to treble, try the Frequency Range Test.

Get a fair result

• Use headphones. Phone speakers often stop around 16 kHz.
• Wired is best. Some Bluetooth codecs cut very high frequencies.
• Quiet room. Background noise hides faint tones.
• Low volume. Raise it slightly if needed, but never to a painful level.

Does it matter if you cannot hear 17 kHz?

For everyday life, not much. Speech sits mostly between 250 Hz and 4 kHz. Losing the very top end does not affect conversations. What matters is protecting the range you still have; read our guide to safe headphone volume.

Fun facts

• Some shops used 17 kHz devices to stop teenagers gathering outside. Many places now restrict them.
• Students once used mosquito ringtones so teachers could not hear their phones.
• Dogs hear up to about 45 kHz and cats up to about 64 kHz.

Common questions

Is the mosquito tone harmful?

At normal volume, no. Keep the volume low and stop if it feels uncomfortable.

Can I get high-frequency hearing back?

Hair cells do not grow back, so protection is the only cure. Lower the volume and take breaks.