Just wondering with audio, what exactly causes hearing damage. Is it decibels (i.e. volume) or frequency???

Given I know squat about audio, I am just wondering what damages your ears in the long run. I know that when I have my stereo up loud and the music is bassy and low frequency, its fine at a given volume, but when the music goes to a higher frequency at the same volume, it tends to be rather uncomfortable and I get the distinct impression this is not healthy. But the crux of the question is, even though I feel discomfort with higher frequency sounds, are the low frequency sounds doing the same sort of damage even though I dont realise it?? :confused:

Listening to crap music also causes brain damage I heard? As for low vs high frequencies I perceive treble to be worse as the wavelength of sound is much smaller, and so peaks will often occur at the eardrums.

In other words, high frequency sounds with a short wave length are most likely to cause damage to the ear drum??

Where does volume come into this?? Obviously volume changes the waves amplitude, but not its pitch. Is it a waves amplitude that causes damage or only in conjunction with its pitch?

Consider a short wave length sound with a low amplitude, is this as dangerous as a long wave with high amplitude (to rephrase my question in a more technical way)???

off track, but ive seen someone with no ears. just holes. i didnt even notice until someone pointed it out to me and he had glasses on. i think they were held up by some sort of tape

off track, but ive seen someone with no ears. just holes. i didnt even notice until someone pointed it out to me and he had glasses on. i think they were held up by some sort of tape
Was his name chopper reed?

My understanding is that repetitive exposure to any frequency caused hearing loss in that range. Higher frequencies hurt more ... does someone want to put that in to technical jargon. I know I've got hearing damage from sitting in front of a 'puter all day from that high pitched squeel emited by crap CRTs, also from using power equipment (with hearing protection I might add), and probably from having an ex-girlfriend who nagged far too much (or did I just become imune to just her, she thought I went deaf).
I'm not an ear doctor type person though.

What..???
Did somebody say something..??

I cant hear you, you gunna hafta speak up...

http://www.hearnet.com/at_risk/risk_aboutloss.shtml

Yes if the volume is above a cetain threshold at any frequency, you're bound to have hearing loss. This includes low frequency sound (aka. bass), so don't take it for granted that if you can't hear it (because its too low) then you won't get hearing loss....

Yes if the volume is above a cetain threshold at any frequency, you're bound to have hearing loss. This includes low frequency sound (aka. bass), so don't take it for granted that if you can't hear it (because its too low) then you won't get hearing loss....
OK not car related but similar principle when having Broadband at home... all phones running through the same line as your broadband should have a line filter to shield your ears from the frequency ranges outside of what the human ear can safely hear through standard phone lines. Broadband utilises these inaudible frequencies for its method of communication. Your ears cant hear it but there is a risk of damage if not protected.

Do you have Broadband and no filters on the same line? better do something about it! :shock:

http://neilk.customer.netspace.net.au/filter.jpg

OK not car related but similar principle when having Broadband at home... all phones running through the same line as your broadband should have a line filter to shield your ears from the frequency ranges outside of what the human ear can safely hear through standard phone lines. Broadband utilises these inaudible frequencies for its method of communication. Your ears cant hear it but there is a risk of damage if not protected.

Do you have Broadband and no filters on the same line? better do something about it! :shock:

http://neilk.customer.netspace.net.au/filter.jpg


Actually this isn't too much of a problem, reason being the speaker in that handset can only emit noise up to 20,000hz, in fact its probably a lot less. The reason the line filters are there is so our conversations don't interrupt the modem talking to the other hand. Now this has caused me to think, why then didn't they build the filter into the modem?? :nuts:

Now I have to search the web for the answer so I can stop thinking about this :doubt:


Must also add to my last post, when i meant "ANY frequency", I meant audible frequency, that is from 1Hz ~ 20,000Hz

Its not just the ear drum in your ears that pick up noises and transmits them to the brain. Its also the fine hairs deep in your ear that pick up the frequencies.

Sound is basically just moving air particles. the lower the frequency the more the air particles move.
In space where there is no air or atmosphere, sound cannot exist, in case you didnt know.

Its a common problem for people with sound systems, particularly people with subs and alot of bass to have hearing problems after long exposure to alot of low frequency sounds.

its because the pressure from the speakers pass into your ear and can kinda push the hairs down or position them in a certain way so they cant function as theyr supposed to.


Also it is a law that in a workplace if the sound level is above 68dB? i think it is, to have ear protection. Most upgraded sound systems go past that, and if your driving alot and have the volume up your definately going to be causing some long term damage.


Mark H, your thinking of sound as it is looking at it as a current going through a wire with the amplitudes etc, what you need to be thinkin about is the physical aspect of sound. The air pressure vibrations that is going into your ears past the hairs and hitting the drum. Loud Low frequencies will cause significant damage as there is alot of strong pressure vibration.
High frequency noises cause discomfort because the ear drums are sensitive to higher freqs. In other wods, they just give you the sh*ts. And will cause damage if listened to for a longer peroid than lower freq's.

Actually this isn't too much of a problem, reason being the speaker in that handset can only emit noise up to 20,000hz, in fact its probably a lot less. The reason the line filters are there is so our conversations don't interrupt the modem talking to the other hand. Now this has caused me to think, why then didn't they build the filter into the modem?? :nuts:

Now I have to search the web for the answer so I can stop thinking about this :doubt:


Must also add to my last post, when i meant "ANY frequency", I meant audible frequency, that is from 1Hz ~ 20,000Hz
That is also true, i should have mentioned the filter served more than one purpose... cheers but I still understand there to be a risk... don't know to what degree exactly but it is there, that I am pretty sure of. Better to be safe then sorry. They are cheap anyway.

The reason the line filters are there is so our conversations don't interrupt the modem talking to the other hand. Now this has caused me to think, why then didn't they build the filter into the modem?? :nuts:

Now I have to search the web for the answer so I can stop thinking about this :doubt:

Your ADSL modem *needs* unfiltered access to your ADSL-enabled phoneline. If its installed downline off a filter it won't receive the proper signal.

The filters go onto all other non-ADSL equipment like telephones, fax machines and conventional modems (yes you can use your 56k same time as ADSL!!). The filters block these old technology items from corrupting the ADSL signal; usual symptom is your ADSL cuts off when someone picks up or hangs up the phone.

Mark H, your thinking of sound as it is looking at it as a current going through a wire with the amplitudes etc, what you need to be thinkin about is the physical aspect of sound. The air pressure vibrations that is going into your ears past the hairs and hitting the drum. Loud Low frequencies will cause significant damage as there is alot of strong pressure vibration.
High frequency noises cause discomfort because the ear drums are sensitive to higher freqs. In other wods, they just give you the sh*ts. And will cause damage if listened to for a longer peroid than lower freq's.
Good answer. Thats what I was looking for! Thanks. :D

Hearing damage is caused by intensity of sound measured of decibels (dB). Normal voice conversation @ 1 metre exposes the listener to 60dB. This dB measures sound intensity on a log scale, so 61dB is 10 times more intense than 60dB . The more dB the time to damaged hearing reduces dramatically.

That's not quite true. Yes, it is a logarithmic scale, but it takes a 10dB increase to represent 10 times the sound pressure, unlike the Richter scale for earthquakes which works as you describe. A 3dB increase will give you twice the volume. I believe a 1dB increase is the smallest perceptible volume increment.

Found this on a site...

(4) HOW LOUD DOES NOISE HAVE TO BE BEFORE IT'S DANGEROUS?

Because permanent hearing loss is usually a long-term process, it is
impossible to know at exactly what point noise becomes loud enough to cause
damage to the ears. However, many experts consider it unsafe to be exposed
indefinitely to a sound level of 85 dBA or higher.

Workers are typically prohibited by regulation from being exposed to
85 dBA for longer than eight hours a day. Since sound intensity doubles with
every increase of 3 dB, the time of permitted exposure must be cut in half
with each such increase. Thus a worker would have to wear ear protection if
exposed to 88 dBA for four hours, 91 dBA for two hours, and so on.

Using this measure of safety, the sound level in a typical night club,
110 dBA, would pose a risk of permanent hearing damage after less than two
minutes of exposure.

Of course, noise is dangerous in other ways too. It can be a cause of
stress, illness, suicide, aggression, and violence. As stated above, the
volume of noise is only one component in its effect.

Then im only allowed in my car for a couple of minutes at a time... lol

After having owned two cars with DB drag racing systems (SPL comps) in the 140db+ region competing regularly (and booming around the place - when I was younger and stupider) I can attest to permanent hearing loss, as well as suffering regular tinitus (sp?) episodes (a loud squealing when there is no noise present).

Fortunatly, it is not as loud as some people suffer, and usually only affects me when it is quiet (going to sleep) - with a white noise generator and a set of headphones, this is rarely a problem. For some severe sufferers, knock on effects such as severe depression and suicide are not unheard of.

I have also suffered burst eardrums on more than one occasion too... They give you trouble when you fly or go diving, and once you burst them, the become easier to do next time :(

Hearing loss is not funny :( Take care guys...

Cheers
Heath Young

WHAT??? Speak up I can't hear you!!!

Nar Heath's absolutely right. U only get one set of ears and I want to be able to appreciate my music well into my years.

Play safe guys,

Its generally ok to pump it every now and then for short periods, but its the long term exposure (daily driving) That can cause the most damage. And you don't notice it till it's too late.

This is from all audible freqencies.

Anyone who's heard a couple of 12's running over 500w will know that pressure that builds up in your ears, same can happen with good quality sealed headphones. This does damage. Also any pain that you feel from high frequencies is bad news...

Peace

Tim

Nar Heath's absolutely right. U only get one set of ears and I want to be able to appreciate my music well into my years.
Yeah, exactly. Thats probably why I posted the question, I love loud music, but no doubt I like it a little too loud and should probably tone it down a bit. I dont want to be one of those deaf old codgers most of us make fun of :cry:

i use to work in a very noisy work area when i was younger and after 15 years of it i left and needed a hearing test for worksafe records and suffered next to no problems so i`m not overly concerned about my music been a little bit on the loud side :badgrin:

Yeah, exactly. Thats probably why I posted the question, I love loud music, but no doubt I like it a little too loud and should probably tone it down a bit. I dont want to be one of those deaf old codgers most of us make fun of :cry:
This has been on my mind a lot lately too...

I don't drive that often anymore, but whenever I'm in the car the music is up. And with stereo upgrades it's only going to get louder... I purposely give all my amps heaps of headroom now.