Implications of a critical level in the ear for assessment of noise hazard at high intensities
- 1 January 1981
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Acoustical Society of America (ASA) in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
- Vol. 69 (1) , 171-177
- https://doi.org/10.1121/1.385361
Abstract
A critical level (CL) exists for the ear at high intensities where the loss mechanism undergoes a fundamental change. CL probably represents the intensity at which a given level of mechanical stress is reached in the organ of Corti. Electrophysiology, histology, and threshold shifts support a CL. CL varies as a function of the spectrum of the sound. The freefield SPL [sound pressure level] reaching CL in the human ear and the distribution of CL is estimated. The implications for human exposure and damage-risk are discussed.Keywords
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