Tinnitus Frequency Test — Match Pitch
Match your tinnitus pitch with sine tones and narrowband noise, per ear, with saved matches. Educational screening, not a diagnosis. Free in your browser.
Protect your hearing. Start at a low volume. Never raise the volume to make a tone audible. Levels are shown in dBFS, relative to full scale — not SPL.
How it works
Matches internal subjective ear ringing by synthesizing calibrated pure tones, resonant narrowband noise, or low hums with discrete ear panning and local browser persistence for personal reference.
The Tinnitus Frequency Matcher allows you to self-assess and identify the approximate frequency, sound timbre, and perceived loudness of your internal ear ringing or buzzing.
Understanding Clinical Tinnitus Sound Profiles
Tinnitus manifests differently depending on the underlying neuro-otological etiology:
| Sound Character | Common Frequencies | Typical Clinical Association |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Tonal Ringing | 3,000 Hz – 12,000 Hz | High-frequency sensorineural hearing loss, presbycusis, or acoustic trauma. |
| Tea-Kettle Steam / Hiss | 6,000 Hz – 14,000 Hz | Extended high-frequency cochlear hair-cell damage (narrowband noise). |
| Low Engine Hum / Buzz | 100 Hz – 300 Hz | Somatosensory, middle-ear conduction, or venous/vascular origin. |
| Cicada / Cricket Sizzle | 8,000 Hz – 12,000 Hz | Multitonal high-frequency tinnitus with jagged cochlear damage contours. |
Audiological Guidelines for Matching
- Quiet Environment: Perform the match in a silent room using quality over-ear headphones or calibrated in-ear monitors.
- Select One Ear: Test the ear where the sensation is most prominent, or use “Both Ears” if your perception is bilateral or centered in your head.
- Bracketing Technique: Audiologists use “bracketing”—alternating between two frequencies (one higher, one lower) to gradually narrow down the perceived pitch match.
- Volume Safety: Always keep the tone volume soft (-30 dBFS or quieter). The goal is matching subjective loudness, not masking or overpowering your tinnitus.
Frequently asked questions
What is tinnitus pitch and loudness matching?
Tinnitus pitch and loudness matching is an audiological procedure where an acoustic tone or filtered noise is played into the listener's ear to match the subjective frequency, sound character, and volume level of their internal tinnitus perception. In clinical audiology, pitch matching helps identify the frequency region corresponding to hair-cell hearing loss or cochlear dead regions.
Why is 4 kHz such a common tinnitus pitch?
The anatomical geometry of the adult human outer ear canal (concha and ear canal resonance) naturally amplifies sound pressure between 2.5 kHz and 4.5 kHz by up to 15–20 dB. Consequently, excessive noise exposure (concerts, power tools, gunfire) delivers the highest acoustic energy dose to cochlear hair cells tuned around 4 kHz, producing the classic 'acoustic notch' and associated 4 kHz tinnitus ring.
Can matching my tinnitus cure or treat the ringing?
No. Matching your tinnitus frequency is strictly an educational self-assessment measurement tool; it is not acoustic treatment, sound therapy, or a cure. Understanding your approximate frequency can, however, be helpful when discussing your symptoms with your audiologist or ENT physician.
When should I seek urgent medical attention for tinnitus?
You should see an otolaryngologist (ENT) or physician immediately if your tinnitus is sudden in onset, heard in only one ear (unilateral), pulsatile (beating in rhythm with your heartbeat), or accompanied by dizziness, vertigo, facial numbness, or sudden hearing loss.
What is the most common tinnitus frequency?
Most matched tinnitus sits between 3 and 8 kHz, with around 4 kHz the single most reported pitch because ear-canal resonance concentrates noise damage there. Use the matcher to explore tones near your own perception at low volume. Matching is educational screening, not a diagnosis, so discuss persistent ringing with a clinician.