Sound Levels: Safety vs. Hearing Damage & Loss

by ScanTech Technical Consulting - CIH, CSP, BSEE, CHMM, CHP (Pending) · Published December 4, 2015 · Updated February 29, 2024

Because sound pressure levels are measured on a logarithmic scale, (power ratios of 10) an increase in decibels beyond a certain point means that the energy impacted on the ear can quickly pass a threshold where damage can occur. As shown in the chart below, even an increase of 5 dB can greatly reduce the duration before hearing loss can occur.

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html

A sound survey is usually conducted to determine the exposure and risk level of hearing loss. Noise surveys are usually employed in the external environment where they are used to determine nuisance levels of a sound source and their impact on residential properties, particularly at night when most people are relaxing or sleeping.

Sound Levels vs. Physical Effects

Note that sound levels above 70 dB begin to interfere with voice communication, while 75 dB and above are generally characterized as annoying. (but dependent on frequency as shown below)

The general effects can be studied in the response table below:

Hearing Damage from Different Noise Sound Levels dB decibels

Hearing Damage from Different Noise Levels

Fortunately, sound pressure levels also decrease with the square of the distance, so moving twice as far away means that the power level decrease by a factor of 4. Bear in mind that 3 decibels (dB) reflects a change in power level by a factor of 2, with +3 dB being twice as loud and -3 dB being half as loud.

Sound Level Decibels Decrease With Distance

Sound Level Decrease with Distance

Also, the human ear does not have a “flat” frequency response – so frequencies at the extreme edges of hearing perception (from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz) are not perceived to be as loud as those centered around 1 KHz – 3 KHz which is in the range of normal human speech.

Perceived Human Hearing Decibels vs. Frequency

Perceived Human Hearing vs. Frequency

Therefore, different measuring scales on sound meters are used to distinguish between “human” hearing (dBA) and “machine” hearing (dBC) which has a flatter frequency response.

Sound Weighting of dBA dBB and dBC Curves at different frequencies decibels

Sound Weighting A B C Decibel vs. Frequency

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