From greddin@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu Tue Mar 26 08:11:38 2002
Subject:What?


Some general information on the subject of hearing loss.

Anthropology literature contains numerous accounts of individuals within
hunter-gatherer communities who possess hearing function levels superior to
that of "civilized" humans. For example, I came across one account of a male
Yanommo (estimated to be in his sixties) who tested out with a hearing level
equivalent to that of a healthy twenty-year-old. Such findings suggest that
the "common sense" association of hearing loss with age is a myth.

In his address to a gathering of music producers and engineers (broadcast
live on NPR), Sir George Martin warned that hearing loss is cumulative and
as such is usually (and tragically) detected after the fact. In his case,
Mr. Martin was discussing the inherent dangers of high volume levels in
recording situations. In any event I encourage all of you to do some of your
own investigating on the important subject of hearing loss.

For example is it more, less or equally damaging to your hearing to be close
to cymbals for hours, nights (or years) on end, or next to a sub cabinet?
What decibel level is considered the limit of safe sound pressure level
exposure? This also brings to mind dangerous attitudes that can be shrouded
in a cloak of hype. I remember for instance a discussion with an audio gear
salesperson. He 'boasted' that that the 'brand X' microphone resisted
distortion of the incoming signal up to a level "only" 20 decibels below the
sound pressure level of a DC-10 on take off. Yeah, we sure are civilized all
right.

G