What is a Decibel?

A decibel (dB) is a unit of measurement used to express the relative loudness of a sound. It is a logarithmic scale, which means that each increase of 10 decibels represents a tenfold increase in loudness.

The decibel scale is named after Alexander Graham Bell. 

There are many different types of decibels, including dB SPL, dB HL, and dB SWL.

What is the normal hearing level in dB?

The normal hearing level for humans is 0 dB HL (hearing level). This means that a person with normal hearing can hear sounds at 0 dB HL or louder.

How much sound is a decibel?

The amount of sound that a decibel represents depends on the frequency of the sound. For example, a 1000 Hz tone at 0 dB HL is about as loud as a whisper. A 1000 Hz tone at 100 dB HL is about as loud as a jackhammer.

Is 1 decibel 10 times louder?

No, 1 decibel does not represent a tenfold increase in loudness. Each increase of 10 decibels represents a tenfold increase in loudness. So, a sound that is 10 dB louder than another sound is 10 times louder.

What is the importance of decibels?

Decibels are important in audiology because they are used to measure hearing loss. Hearing loss is classified as mild, moderate, severe, or profound, based on the amount of decibels that a person loses. For example, a person with mild hearing loss may have a hearing loss of 25-40 dB HL. A person with moderate hearing loss may have a hearing loss of 41-70 dB HL.

Decibels are also important in audiology because they are used to measure the loudness of sounds. This information can be used to help people protect their hearing from noise-induced hearing loss. For example, it is recommended to keep noise levels below 85 dB SPL to protect your hearing.

The decibel scale is logarithmic because the human ear does not perceive sound in a linear fashion.

If you are concerned about your hearing, it is important to see an audiologist for a hearing evaluation.