Sound Frequencies: Decibels Defined

You may have experienced hearing a wide range of noises from the softness of a loved one’s voice to the sirens on a fire truck, or a more soothing sound of your favorite music. These sounds are measured using a decibel. This is a ratio between power, sound pressure, and voltage.  

Measuring the Intensity of Sound

Sound moves in the form of energy waves. It is measured via frequency and amplitude. 

• Frequency: This is recorded via hertz (Hz), which measures the number of sound vibrations per second. In layman’s terms, this correlates to low or high sound in pitch. For example, a child’s voice is considered to be in the high-frequency range. Most older adults with hearing loss experience high-frequency hearing loss. They tend to struggle to hear sounds that are high-pitched. 
• Amplitude: This is recorded via decibel (dB), which measures the pressure or forcefulness of sound. The more amplitude a sound has the louder it is. This is essentially volume.

The Increase in Decibels is Exponential

A 10 dB increase indicates that the sound is 10 times louder, and a 20 dB increase indicates that the sound is 100 times louder.

A List of Decibels for Common Sounds 

Simply being told a number for a decibel measurement probably doesn’t mean anything, unless you are a hearing healthcare professional or someone who frequently uses a decibel meter app. 

Hearing loss can occur with decibels as low as 70 (that’s after frequent or prolonged exposure).

These noises can lead to immediate and permanent hearing loss after one exposure at close-range:

150-160 dB - A shotgun/firearm

140 dB - A jet engine as it departs a runway/fireworks

120 dB - An emergency vehicle siren/concerts

These noises can lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) after regular, prolonged exposure:

110 dB - A rock concert

105-130 dB - Sports events (based on the size and style of the arena/stadium)

105 dB - Playing music through earbuds or headphones at the highest volume

100 dB - A motorcycle

90 dB - Power tools/lawn mower

80-90 dB - Heavy traffic

Anyone with untreated mild-to-moderate hearing loss tends to struggle with hearing these softer sounds:

70 dB - Vacuum cleaner

60 dB - Normal conversation with one other person

50 dB - A conversation among a group of people

20 dB - Rustling leaves 

10 dB - Breathing

How are Decibels Measured?

Hearing loss is measured according to the lowest range of decibels that you can hear. A person with normal hearing can hear leaves rustling or water dripping into the sink or on the ground (~10 dB), but someone with mild hearing loss would not be able to hear that sound. Frequency and pitch are other parts of hearing loss. Loss of hearing in higher frequencies is more common than in lower frequencies. There are different combinations of decibel and frequency loss. 

Normal hearing ability: 10-20 dB

Mild hearing loss: 25-40 dB

Moderate hearing loss: 40-55 dB

Moderately severe hearing loss: 55-69 dB 

Severe hearing loss: 70-89 dB

Profound hearing loss: 90-120 dB
 
How can You tell if an Environment is too Loud?

If you are in a noisy area and concerned that you could lose your hearing, here are a few things you can do: 

• Use a decibel measuring app. This can be downloaded onto your smartphone. 
• You can use a basic 4-step rule: 

 

1. Do you or others need to talk louder when you are standing right next to each other?
2. Do you find yourself moving closer to a person if you can’t hear them when there are three feet, or less, between you?
3. After attending an event that was loud, are speech sounds muffled? The sounds may have damaged your hearing.
4. After attending an event that was loud, do your ears hurt? Are you hearing a ringing or buzzing noise? Sudden pain or ear ringing is a sign that the event was too loud. 

Be Cautious, especially if You Have Hearing Loss.

If you wear hearing aids, you need to be aware of the noise levels in your environment. Hearing aids amplify sounds, so you are still at risk of hearing loss just like everyone else. You can ask your hearing instrument specialist to program a special setting for these occasions. 

Do not turn off your hearing aids as a way to try and protect your hearing. If they are not snugly fit in your ear canal, they will not be able to block out harmful sounds when switched off. Instead, you won’t be able to hear the sounds that you want/need to hear. 

Work with a professional hearing instrument specialist to establish the correct hearing protection for the event that you will attend or the activity that you will be participating in. 

If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, please contact us at Pure Sound Hearing for a complimentary hearing test and consultation.    

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