Dichotic Digits Test

What it measures

How well your brain processes sound coming into both ears at once (binaural integration). Different digits are played to each ear simultaneously and you report both. It gives a percent-correct score for each ear and the gap between them — a window onto auditory processing rather than simple hearing sensitivity.

How it works

Dichotic listening is a long-established neuropsychological method: when two sounds compete, the brain's ability to capture both — and any ear advantage — reveals how the two sides are integrated. You'll do a short fixed run of trials; we tally how many digits each ear got right and flag a large interaural gap or a left-ear deficit.

Tips for an accurate result

• 1Don't favour one ear — Try to attend to both sides equally rather than concentrating on one.
• 2A left-ear dip can be normal — A small right-ear advantage is common; it's a large or left-favouring gap that matters.
• 3Pair with speech-in-noise — Processing and sensitivity are different things — testing both gives a fuller picture.
• 4Retest if it felt rushed — Familiarity improves scores slightly; a second run is often more representative.