Why does the same note sound different in each ear?

That's diplacusis — usually caused by a small difference in how the two cochleae are tuned, often after noise exposure, an ear infection, or with conditions like Ménière's. A 1 kHz tone may sound slightly higher or lower on one side.

Is diplacusis serious?

Often it's mild and harmless, but a new, sudden, or large pitch difference — especially alongside hearing loss, fullness, or vertigo in one ear — can signal an asymmetric cochlear problem and should be assessed by an audiologist or ENT promptly.

Can diplacusis go away?

Temporary diplacusis from a cold, wax, or brief noise exposure often resolves as the ear recovers. Persistent diplacusis, or one linked to a medical condition, needs professional evaluation.

Audition

Test de diplacousie

La même note sonne-t-elle différemment dans chaque oreille ? Mesurez la différence de hauteur entre vos deux oreilles.

~4 minDurée

Binaural pitch comparison (interaural pitch difference)Méthode

GratuitCoût

Avant de commencer

Utilisez un casque dans une pièce calme. Réglez le volume à un niveau modéré et confortable avant de commencer.

Comment ça marche

1Confirm your stereo — A quick left/right check makes sure each ear gets its own channel.
2Compare a tone — Hear a 1 kHz tone in both ears and judge if the pitch is identical.
3Match if it differs — Tune one ear until both pitches agree, giving a difference percentage.

1Verified stereo headphones — The ears must be separated correctly — the test won't score without passing the stereo check.
2Quiet room, comfortable volume — Subtle pitch comparisons need a calm, gentle listening level.
3Judge pitch, not loudness — Focus only on whether the note is higher or lower, not louder, in one ear.
4Take your time matching — Move the slider slowly and replay often to settle on a true match.

same note, two ears

4′

Binaural pitch comparison (interaural pitch difference)

Ce que ça mesure

Whether the same sound is heard at a different pitch in each ear — a condition called diplacusis. If your ears disagree, you tune one until they match, yielding an interaural pitch difference (in percent). Diplacusis can be a sign of asymmetric cochlear change and sometimes accompanies Ménière's disease or sudden hearing loss.

Comment ça marche

First a 1 kHz tone is played equally to both ears and you say whether the pitch sounds the same. If it differs, your left ear keeps the fixed reference while you slide your right ear's pitch up or down until the two match. The percentage difference at the match point estimates your interaural pitch difference.

Conseils pour un résultat fiable

1Sudden diplacusis is a red flag — A new pitch mismatch — especially with hearing change in one ear — should be checked promptly.
2It can come and go — Diplacusis may fluctuate, particularly in Ménière's; retest on different days.
3Pair with the pure-tone test — Asymmetric thresholds often underlie a pitch mismatch between ears.
4Note recent ear events — Infections, noise exposure, or a blocked ear can cause temporary diplacusis.

Questions fréquentes

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Test auditif en ligne : audiométrie tonale et audiogramme

Repérez les sons les plus faibles que vous percevez avec ce test auditif en ligne et obtenez un véritable audiogramme tonal pour chaque oreille.

Passer un test

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Acouphène : recherche de fréquence

Identifiez la hauteur exacte de votre sifflement — la base de la thérapie sonore.

Passer un test