UNDERWATER HEARING IN MAN: 1. SENSITIVITY

Abstract

All available research on the underwater hearing sensitivity of man is reviewed. New data on the underwater hearing of divers with known AC and BC levels are presented. It is concluded that: Man suffers a loss of sound pressure sensitivity upon immersion; Underwater hearing sensitivity is frequency dependent with peak sensitivity being about 61 to 64 dB above .0002 decibels per square centimeter at 1 kiloHertz; Air conduction auditory deficiencies are not reflected in underwater hearing levels unless the air conduction deficiencies are accompanied by bone conduction deficiencies; Wet suit diving hoods reduce underwater sensitivity to sound by about 25 to 35 dB at frequencies of 1 kiloHertz and higher.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 28, 1969
Accession Number
AD0691403

Entities

People

  • Paul F. Smith

Organizations

  • Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acoustic Impedance
  • Ambient Noise
  • Amplifiers
  • Attenuators
  • Audiometry
  • Ear
  • Frequency
  • Hydrophones
  • Measurement
  • Medical Personnel
  • Navy
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Sensitivity
  • Sound Pressure
  • Underwater Sound
  • Wet Suits

Readers

  • Acoustical Oceanography.
  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Materials Science