What is the typical human hearing range in hertz?

The typical human hearing range is from 20 hertz (Hz) to 20,000 Hz.

The human ear is a remarkable organ, capable of detecting a wide range of frequencies. This range, known as the 'audible range', typically spans from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. However, this can vary from person to person and changes with age. Young children can often hear higher frequencies than adults, and as we age, our ability to hear high frequencies tends to decrease.

The lower end of the hearing range, around 20 Hz, corresponds to the lowest pitches that we can hear. These are deep, bass sounds like the lowest notes on a piano or the rumble of thunder. On the other hand, the upper end of the hearing range, around 20,000 Hz, corresponds to the highest pitches we can hear. These are high, treble sounds like the chirping of birds or the ringing of a telephone.

It's important to note that the human ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies within this range. We are most sensitive to frequencies between 2,000 and 4,000 Hz, which is the range of most human speech. This is why, for example, you can hear someone talking in a noisy room - your ears are 'tuned' to pick up the frequencies of human speech.

Sound frequencies below 20 Hz are referred to as 'infrasound', while those above 20,000 Hz are called 'ultrasound'. Although these sounds are outside of our hearing range, they can still have physical effects. For instance, infrasound can cause feelings of discomfort or unease, while ultrasound is used in medical imaging and therapy.