#Decibel scale series

Zero on the decibel scale is the “threshold of human hearing”: it’s the least intense sound a human can detect. To see what this looks like, we need to know where we’re starting. Here, going 10 units up the scale increases the previous number by a factor of 10, not by 10 units. Easy enough, right? However, a logarithmic scale is very different. If you start at zero centimeters and add 10, you’re at 10 centimeters start at 10 centimeters, add 10 more, and you’re at 20 centimeters. Think of a linear scale as a tape measure: going 10 units up the scale gets you 10 units more than where you started. (The Richter scale of earthquake intensity is another example of a logarithmic scale.) We measure sound intensity on a logarithmic base 10 scale, which proceeds in multiples of 10, rather than on a linear scale. Human ears can detect an incredibly wide range of sounds. You’ve certainly heard the word “decibel” more than once but do you know how the decibel scale works? Understanding the decibel scale will give you insight into the degrees of hearing loss, and help when it comes to hearing protection.

#Decibel scale series

Our Hearing Protection Series of blog posts takes an in-depth look at hearing protection. It’s important to protect whatever level of hearing ability you still have. Part 1 in our Hearing Protection Series | See Part 2įor many people with hearing loss, hearing protection is a big deal. A State-by-State Guide for Hearing Aid Insurance.