Absolute threshold of hearing
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The threshold of hearing is generally reported as the sound pressure level (SPL) of 20 µPa (micropascals) = 2 × 10−5 pascal (Pa). This is equivalent to 0.0002 dynes per square centimeter. It is approximately the minimum sound intensity a young human with undamaged hearing can detect at 1000 Hz. [1] This low threshold of amplitude (strength or sound pressure level) is frequency dependent. See the frequency curve in Fig. 2.
The absolute threshold of hearing (ATH) is the minimum sound amplitude (level or strength) of a pure tone that the average ear with normal hearing can hear in a noiseless environment. Some people report hearing noises when no external sound is present; this is known as tinnitus.
The threshold of pain is the SPL beyond which sound becomes painful for the average human listener. This threshold varies only slightly with frequency. Prolonged exposure to sound pressure levels in excess of the threshold of pain can cause physical damage, potentially leading to hearing impairment and tinnitus.
Different values for the threshold of pain:
| Threshold of pain | ||
|---|---|---|
| SPL | sound pressure | |
| 120 dBSPL | 20 Pa | |
| 130 dBSPL | 63 Pa | |
| 134 dBSPL | 100 Pa | |
| 137.5 dBSPL | 150 Pa | |
| 140 dBSPL | 200 Pa | |
The Threshold of hearing is frequency dependent, and typically shows a minimum (indicating the ear's maximum sensitivity) at frequencies between 1 kHz and 5 kHz. A typical ATH curve is pictured in Fig. 1. The absolute threshold of hearing represents the lowest curve amongst the set of equal-loudness contours, with the highest curve representing the threshold of pain.
In psychoacoustic audio compression, the ATH is used, often in combination with masking curves, to calculate which spectral components are inaudible and may thus be ignored in the coding process; any part of an audio spectrum which has an amplitude (level or strength) below the ATH may be removed from an audio signal without any audible change to the signal.
The ATH curve rises with age as the human ear becomes more insensitive to sound, with the greatest changes occurring at frequencies higher than 2 kHz. Curves for subjects of various age groups are illustrated in Fig. 2. The data is from the United States Occupational Health and Environment Control, Standard Number:1910.95 App F
[edit] Notes
- ^ Lindsay, Peter and Donald Norman, "Human Information Processing: An Introduction to Psychology" New York and London: Academic Press, 1972, Chapters 6 and 7. ISBN 0-12-450950-9
