Why is the magic number 132db and not lower?

NaidaUP

NaidaUP

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I've always wondered why hearing aid companies (Phonak) state this -

Warning to hearing care professionals:
This hearing instrument has an output sound pressure level that can exceed 132 dB SPL. Special care should be taken when fitting this instrument as there is a risk of impairing the residual hearing of the user.

Even at 100db, it is still loud, so why do they only have this message when it can exceed 132db?
 
Google doesn't come up with anything but hearing aids that show this warning.

Haven't asked my Audi as always forget altho im due to see him in a few weeks so could always ask, if I remember! :P
 
NaidaUP said:
Google doesn't come up with anything but hearing aids that show this warning.

Haven't asked my Audi as always forget altho im due to see him in a few weeks so could always ask, if I remember! :P
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LOL. I suspect that over 132 db that you would not hear anything at all? I guess!!!
 
Frisky Feline said:
LOL. I suspect that over 132 db that you would not hear anything at all? I guess!!!
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Mine is at 138db and 142db and I can still hear. My Naidas UPs go up to a maximum of 144db.

I think it something to do with the amount of pressure but like you I'm guessing, lol.
 
I wonder why too, I'm pretty sure I've heard that sustained sound at 90db will cause hearing loss........
 
I've heard that 85 db is enough to damage hearing. Maybe not my residual hearing, though.
 
Good question but you missed one key component: dB SPL. That means the sound pressure level. What we see on our audiograms is dB HL.
The difference between the two scales is pretty big. One measures the actual pressure waves caused by the sound and the other is normalized to account for the fact that a normal hearing person doesn't have hearing thresholds at the same place for every frequency. So instead of comparing each frequency to the ideal normal hearing person, dB HL makes 0dB normal for each frequency. There is some math magic but that is the gist.

Why 132 dB SPL? take a look at this. 140 dB SPL is equivalent of a freaking rocket ship taking off.
I imagine that is enough to not only rupture the eardrum but also to disrupt the bones of the middle ear (this is referring to a single burst of sound at the maximum power output of a hearing aids.).
Keep in mind that the sound is being delivered straight from the hearing aid to about 1cm from our ear drums.

Also, residual hearing. It is true that exposure to very loud noises everyday can damage residual hearing. I don't know to what extent someone with severe to profound hearing loss would be affected but I do notice much more tinnitus after wearing my hearing aids all day.
 
I've had serious worries about these Naida Up's I got during the summer could accelerate loss in the hearing for my right ear. :eek3:
 
ambrosia said:
I've had serious worries about these Naida Up's I got during the summer could accelerate loss in the hearing for my right ear. :eek3:
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Maybe I'm a bit of a pessimist when it comes to hearing but NOTHING has slowed my hearing loss. Wearing weaker hearing aids is useless (for me) because I need the decibels and even with them it isn't enough.

I turned down an opportunity to get a CI a year ago when I was still young enough to be covered under my mom's kick ass insurance. Stupidest idea I've ever had. Even more stupid than trying to stand on the seat of my bike while going down a big hill when I was 8.
 
DeafBadger said:
Ah, but you're only 8 once. ;)
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Yeah and it was AWESOME. I still have the scars. But seriously, I remember the feeling of freedom right before I made contact with the earth.

(Now I'm thinking, seriously younger me?, you had crappy balance but you decided that standing on your bike while going down a ginormous hill was a good idea?)

But I was only 25 once also.
 
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