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Is human underwater hearing mediated by bone conduction?
K Sørensen1, J Christensen-Dalsgaard1, M Wahlberg1
1Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M Denmark.
Hearing Research
|April 16, 2022
Summary
Human underwater hearing is more sensitive than previously thought, especially at lower frequencies. However, directional hearing underwater remains poor, indicating no special adaptations for sound localization in water.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Science
- Human Physiology
- Acoustics
Background:
- Understanding human hearing in different media is crucial for audiology and underwater acoustics.
- Previous research suggested significantly higher underwater hearing thresholds compared to airborne sound.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure human hearing thresholds and directional hearing abilities underwater.
- To investigate the mechanisms underlying underwater hearing and compare them to in-air hearing.
Main Methods:
- Audiograms and directional hearing were measured in human participants in both air and water.
- Underwater hearing thresholds were analyzed in intensity, pressure, and particle velocity units.
Main Results:
- Lowest underwater hearing thresholds were 2.8 µW/m² (3.6 mPa) at 500 Hz.
- Underwater thresholds were 4-26 dB (intensity) and 40-62 dB (pressure) higher than in-air thresholds.
- Below 1 kHz, underwater thresholds in particle velocity were lower than bone conduction thresholds, suggesting non-bone conduction pathways.
Conclusions:
- Human underwater hearing is more acute than previously reported, particularly below 1 kHz, likely due to middle ear air resonance.
- Poor underwater directional hearing suggests a lack of adaptation for sound localization in aquatic environments despite improved sensitivity.
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