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Sound associated hearing damage.

In the recent discussion about high efficiency speakers in recording. The important topic of possible hearing damage came up. But was not dealt with in enough detail. Obviously excessively high continuous SPL can produce hearing damage. Gunshots firecrackers short duration loud also do damage. But what about high SPL
Instantenous peaks? These
are not clearly audible but give dynamic range information and are documented in peak and hold SPL meters not standard averaging RMS meters.

Tom Danley has reported 147dB peak from a spoon hitting a tiled floor from about 7 feet away. He held the meter in his hands which puts it closer to 8 feet away. That's a remarkable SPL!!
Impulse damage as the literature refers to are the peaks of less than 1 second where damage occurs. Loud explosive sounds. This kind of damage is said to be worse than continuous high SPL levels. Continuous Ultrasonic sounds and infranic sound not audible of high level do cause hearing loss. But what about the instantenous not audible high SPL peaks in our hearing range? Well it's not clear wether damage does occur!

The next question is can speakers reproduce these instantenous high SPL peaks which can be inaudible? Historically we have not been able events to reproduce the full dynamics of events. This will need to be looked at in more detail. But if a spoon falling can produce an impulse peak of 147dB at 8 feet you will need 159dB to reproduce it. Good luck!


Why are impulse rapid peaks so harmfull? Sound noise (pressure waves) enters the ear canal causing the tympanic membrane to move the 3 bones to push against the cochlea. Hair cells are then shaken up by fluid and damaged. The high freq being the first in line are the ones first damaged resulting in ringing ( tinnitus) and muffling. The ear depends on a little muscle called the stapedius which tightens the 3 little bones reducing transference of pressure to the cochlea. BUT it takes time for it to happen. Therefore impulse rapid peaks are worse than continuous high SPL were some protectiom occurs.

In music peaks can be 30dB above RMS so listening at a moderate level of 100dB RMS SPL will expose us to possible 130dB inaudible peaks. Will it do damage? Not clear!

Hearing damage can be temporary immediate or gradual and cumulative and but once it persist is not treatable or reversible.

So it's not clear wether inaudible instantenous high SPL peaks in our hearing range can cause damage. But Continuous ultrasonic and infrasonic can. Better be safe than deaf and avoid high SPLs





Edits: 03/03/25 03/03/25

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Topic - Sound associated hearing damage. - Nicoro 22:29:31 03/02/25 (30)

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