Frequency response of human hearing

The frequency response of the human ear is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz optimally, but quickly narrows with age, with most of the loss taking place at the higher frequencies. By 50 years the upper limit averages around 12 kHz. The highest sensitivity (i.e., the ability to detect quiet sounds) takes place at 1000–4000 Hz. These closely match the frequency range of human speech, 250–4000 Hz. Greatest auditory acuity (i.e., the ability to discriminate between tones) is also found between 1000 and 4000 Hz.