Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Research Application of Laser-Induced Shock Wave for Studying Blast-Induced Cochlear Injury
Published on: March 1, 2024
[Acute hearing impairment by extremely high sound pressure levels]
1Fachbereich Arbeitsgestaltung - Physikalische Einwirkungen, Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung (IFA), Sankt Augustin, Deutschland. martin.liedtke@dguv.de
Abstract:
The bulletin for occupational disease no. 2301 in the annex of the Occupational Disease Act, noise-induced hearing impairment, ("Merkblatt zu der Berufskrankheit Nr. 2301 der Anlage zur Berufskrankheiten-Verordnung: Lärmschwerhörigkeit") states that sound events with an intensity exceeding 137 dB (C) may cause immediate mechanical damage to the inner ear. Up to now a distinction has been made between prevention and actual damage potential for the risks caused by sounds with extremely high peak levels. In the field of prevention the unweighted sound pressure peak level of 140 dB, which is now 137 dB(C,peak) according to the LärmVibrationsArbSchV, was applied as the trigger threshold for measures; in contrast actual hearing impairment was not found until 150-160 dB. This article compiles the current state of knowledge and demonstrates that in the area of the reasons mentioned here for acute hearing impairment, no scientifically based new findings exist especially with reference to publications listed in the bulletin.
More Related Videos
03:49Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode
Published on: October 11, 2024
07:13Modified Experimental Conditions for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Mice and Assessment of Hearing Function and Outer Hair Cell Damage
Published on: February 10, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Sound Intensity Level
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and hence a...
Hearing
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by identifying...
Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking the...
Perception of Sound Waves
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same frequency...
Anatomy of the Ear