Normal young hearing can typically detect frequencies ranging from:

Normal young hearing can typically detect frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. This range represents the standard auditory capability of healthy young adults and is critical for understanding speech, music, and other environmental sounds.

The lower limit of 20 Hz marks the threshold for young individuals, below which sounds are classified as infrasound, which is not perceivable by the human ear. The upper limit of 20,000 Hz corresponds to ultrasound, which also cannot be heard. This frequency range is essential for communication in various contexts since many speech sounds fall within this spectrum.

As hearing ability can decline with age or due to exposure to loud noises, the ability to perceive these frequencies may change over time, leading to a narrower range for older adults or those with hearing impairments. Understanding this frequency range helps inform assessments, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing disorders across the lifespan.