A-weighted decibels, or “dBA,” are often used when describing sound level recommendations for healthy listening. Sometimes we use different versions of decibels. Using the logarithmic decibel scale, if a sound is 80 decibels, and we add another 10 decibels, the sound will be ten times more intense, and will seem about twice as loud to our ears. If we build up another 10 feet, the building will be 12.5 percent taller, which would seem just slightly taller to us this is a linear measurement. To understand this, think of a building that is 80 feet tall. This kind of scale better represents how changes in sound intensity actually feel to our ears. While many standard measuring devices, such as rulers, are linear, the decibel scale is logarithmic. A modern version of it is still used today to diagnose hearing loss.ĭecibels are different from other familiar scales of measurement. An audiometer is a device that measures how well a person can hear certain sounds. Decibels (dB) are named in honor of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of both the telephone and the audiometer. We measure sound intensity (also referred to as sound power or sound pressure) in units called decibels. Another important and easily measured factor is sound intensity, or volume. Has a noisy situation ever left you grimacing and clutching your ears? Why do some sounds seem so loud? Many factors influence how loud a sound seems, including how long it lasts, the sound’s frequencies (or pitches), and the environment in which you hear the sound.
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