which frequencies are more damaging to the ears?

low or high frequencies? or anything in between

thanks

 

We have different sensitivities for different frequencies and are most sensitive to ~ 3kHz.
Have look at this chart. The sensitivity is highest where the curve is lowest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour.

 

I feel resonances in higher frequencies are a lot more audible and a lot more "piercing" than lower frequencies, so they tend to hurt more. But what ACTUALLY damages your ears more? no clue.

This makes a lot more sense, nvm my initial assumption. Lower frequency audio carries a lot more energy than higher frequency audio, and the wavelengths are a lot longer too.

 

1.) Three factors put you at risk forNoise-Induced Hearing Loss :
- How loud the noise is - How close you are to the noise - How long you hear the noise

2.) Constantly using headphones can cause hearing damage
If you’re listening to your headphones at a high volume, you should use them for less time, said Bill Hodgetts, a professor of audiology at the University of Alberta. “We take a level like 85 decibels and say that that level is generally safe for eight hours. And then every three decibels as you go up from that halves the amount of time you can spend in that environment.”

For reference, 85 decibels is about as loud as a noisy restaurant or heavy traffic. Noises above 85 decibels are generally considered harmful.
“If you’re listening to headphones at a level of 94, 95 decibels and you have them on all the time, then you’re definitely going to be causing potential damage to your hearing,” Hodgetts said.

 

Frequency doesn't matter without considering the other elements. It is the amount of excitation of the celias which means intensity and sensitivity of the stetocelias. Your ear has 2 resonant amplifiers and a built in compression system due to the way the 3 bones work ( forget the name ) . Those inner hairs get over excited and die, they aren't replaced and the receptors for those hairs fire junk info. Cup your ears and if you have good hearing , you should hear those resonant centers. If you've ever been in an anechoic , it is noticeable to most and really uncomfortable.

In practical terms , the most dangerous types of sound are very sharp percussive sounds when your natural compression can't kick in and over excitation of the stereocylia for long periods of time which is by design more sensitive at mid high frequencies.

And it is extremely rare that you would get a loud pure sine tone at a low frequency without some sort of harmonics generated.

So I mean to sum it up , all other things equal, mid Hugh's are going to cause more damage but not due to the frequency alone.

 

Woofer burn is a real thing. Don't stand too close and never put your face up against it to better feel the beat.

 

what did you said?

 

Prolonged exposure to any full spectrum loud noise is damaging. Damaged crystals/hairs are damaged crystals/hairs.

Check the Robinson-Dadson loudness curve to see where we are most sensitive, and usually the frequency which dips first.

I don't feel the need to tell you that Google exist for a reason.

 

Last edited: Sep 24, 2021

bad music is more harmful.

 

It depends on
1. loudness
2. duration of exposure
3. frequency
4. impulse

Noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time may start to damage hearing. It is recommended no more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure to sounds that are at 100 decibels. Regular exposure to sounds at 110 decibels for more than one minute may result in permanent hearing loss. Noise above 120 dB can cause immediate harm to our ears.

Frequently using headphones at a louder volume (above 70 dB) can cause permanent hearing loss. Using headphones puts one to much greater risk of hearing loss than loudspeakers at the same loudness level.

Frequencies under about 250 Hz are the most harmful.
Ultrasound can also contribute to hearing loss. If the ultrasound is too strong, sub-harmonic vibrations are generated in the ear.

Abrupt loud sounds can not be efficiently dampened by our ears.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 24, 2021

Neural sensitivity to sound is not the measure of probability of getting a hearing loss. It is a matter of ear anatomy.

 

Probably these frequencies..

 

SPL, anybody?

 

Any person who grew up in the days when Double four-way P.A. systems were big and saw novice engineers with below 30 cycles boosted and other frequency curves that looked ridiculous - Only to see people dancing next to the speaker system and 18" sub-woofer stack throwing up, or ears bleeding, knows that too much of any sound frequency if loud enough will cause a human reaction. I do not even need to know exactly which frequencies (and as said above they vary) to know that vomiting and bleeding is a pretty good indicator that your ears are precious things that need to be treated with respect.

Basically, any frequency, if it is too loud, cannot be good for anyone.

 

He's passed mid now though.

 

When I started to be trained engineering on the road, a lighting crew guy told me a horrible story.
His colleague had a few decades of work under his belt. Great with heights, as you have to be in some venues as a lighting person.
Whilst he was up in the Gods, a PA guy accidentally switched in the CD player prior to soundcheck...without checking any levels prior.
The lighting guy got blasted with sound; was frozen to the gangway; ears bleeding. Stuck up there, gripping the walkway.
Had to be brought down by people.
Perma-shock, hearing screwed.
End of career.

 

that's terrible. Our ears are precious. I hoped they financially did the right thing.

 

The story was from the crew that had the first star cloth in the UK, and they did the Simply Red tour with it.
It was one of those guys.
Waaay back now.

 

I don't know if it does damage, but some sounds from distorted guitars coming out from OTS Kontakt libraries are very unpleasant...
so far I don't use them, but if needed I'll try to fix them via Ozon/Fabfilter matching EQ with references of good sounding guitars