Personal fitting · Service by appointment055-3333338
Book a visit
English › Hearing tests › The digits-in-noise test

Online test · Digits in noise

The digits-in-noise test: what it checks, and why it is part of the self-check

In short: in a digits-in-noise test you hear three digits against background noise and type them in. When you answer correctly the noise gets stronger, and when you make a mistake it gets weaker. That way the test checks understanding of speech in noise, not only hearing tones. The World Health Organization uses this method in the hearWHO app. In the G-Sound self-check it is one step, and it gives only a signal.
Call 055-3333338WhatsApp

How does the test work?

In each round you hear three digits, for example "two, seven, four", with noise over them. You type what you heard on a large keypad on the screen.

  • Starting in quiet. The G-Sound self-check first has two rounds without noise, to make sure the voice can be heard and that it is clear what to do.
  • Then with changing noise. 20 rounds. After a correct answer the noise goes up a level, and after a mistake it goes down.
  • The summary in words. For example: "You understood digits in quiet, but it was harder for you when the noise got stronger".

The noise in our test resembles speech noise (filtered pink noise), and it is the same in both ears. The digits are spoken by the browser's built-in voice. If the browser has no Hebrew voice, a message appears suggesting you try another browser, and you can skip to the summary.

Why digits?

Digits are short words that almost everyone knows. According to the researchers who developed and studied the test, using simple digits is what allows the test not to require a high level of language skill (De Sousa et al., Ear and Hearing, 2020). In addition, they can be typed quickly, which allows many rounds in a short time.

Why in noise?

The difficulty people mention most is not in quiet, but in conversation in a restaurant, at a family event or in a conversation between several people. The NIDCD questionnaire also asks directly about restaurants. A tone test in quiet does not check this situation, and the digits-in-noise test tries to come close to it. About this gap: Hard to hear in a restaurant, but fine in quiet?

What does research say?

  • WHO: according to WHO, the hearWHO app is based on validated digits-in-noise technology, and is meant for screening and for following hearing over time (WHO, 2018).
  • A version with a phase difference between the ears: a study by De Sousa et al. (Ear and Hearing, 2020) found that a version in which the digits are played in inverted phase between the ears is more sensitive than the usual version to different types of hearing loss, and the results were consistent on retest. Our test is the usual version, without phase inversion.
  • French: Ceccato et al. (Frontiers in Public Health, 2021) tested a French version, with phase inversion, against a full hearing test, and reported high sensitivity and specificity for detecting hearing loss. The researchers noted that the test does not require calibrated equipment. These are results of the French test studied in the research, not of our test.
  • Hebrew: researchers from Ariel University published studies in 2024 on a Hebrew digits-in-noise test in specific populations, such as cochlear implant users. We did not find a study that tested a Hebrew version against a full hearing test to set a screening cut-off.
  • hearWHO accuracy data: we did not find a primary publication with sensitivity and specificity data for hearWHO itself, so we do not give numbers here.

The bottom line: the method has been studied and found useful for screening. Our Hebrew version is based on the same idea, but it has not been validated in research. So it gives a signal, not a score.

What the online test does not do

  • The digits-in-noise step does not give a score or a number. The summary is written in words.
  • It does not determine whether there is hearing loss, and does not distinguish between types of loss.
  • It does not replace a test with an audiometer and does not give an audiogram.
  • A browser's built-in voice, home headphones and a room that is not quiet affect the result.
  • It is not suitable for an urgent situation: sudden hearing loss, ear pain or discharge from the ear are reasons to see a doctor the same day.

What to do with the result

  • You understood well in quiet and in noise, and have no difficulty day to day: you can repeat the self-check in the future, to see whether something changes.
  • You struggled in noise, or you feel a difficulty in conversations: it is worth arranging a full hearing test. At G-Sound it is carried out by a G-Sound technician with an audiogram, by appointment and nationwide, also at home.
  • The result is good but the everyday difficulty is there: your own sense matters just as much. It is worth getting tested.

More on this topic

The self-check, and after it the full test. Including a digits-in-noise step: to the self-check (in Hebrew). For a full test with an audiogram, also at home: call 055-3333338 or WhatsApp.

Sources

English version: 4 November 2026 · Written by the G-Sound editorial team. Original version updated 03.11.2026. The information is general and does not replace a check-up or medical advice.

More in English

Hearing testsOnline hearing testWhat happens in a hearing testHome hearing testContact G-Sound

Frequently asked questions

Questions about the digits-in-noise test

What is the difference between a digits-in-noise test and a tone test?

A tone test checks whether you hear a short tone at a certain pitch. A digits-in-noise test checks whether you understand words when there is noise in the background. The G-Sound self-check has both.

Do I need headphones for the digits-in-noise test?

In our test, yes. Headphones are needed for the tone step, and it is better to use the same headphones throughout the test and in a quiet room.

Why does the voice in the test sound computerised?

Because the digits are spoken by the browser's built-in voice. If the browser has no Hebrew voice, a message will appear and you can skip to the summary.

If I did well on digits in noise, does that mean I have no hearing problem?

Not necessarily. It is a self-check that gives only a signal. If there is a difficulty in everyday life, it is worth having a full test.

Is your test the same as hearWHO?

No. It is based on the same method, but it is a separate version that has not been validated in research.

Please do not send sensitive medical information in a message. We go over the relevant details on the phone.

Want to arrange it?

Service is by appointment: at the customer's home, at work, and sometimes in the everyday setting where the difficulty happens.

To arrange a full hearing test with an audiogram, also at home.

055-3333338
Call nowSend a WhatsApp message

G-Sound is an authorized marketer of Philips hearing aids.

Call WhatsApp