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Sound Intensity Level

Sound Intensity Level

Humans perceive sound by hearing. The human ear helps sound waves reach the brain, which then interprets the waves and creates the perception of hearing. The loudness of the environment in which a person is located determines whether they can distinguish between different sound sources.
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...

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Author Spotlight: Advancements in Impedance Monitoring for Cochlear Implant Surgery

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Intracochlear Pressure Measurements Quantify Overall Noise Exposure to the Inner Ear During Mastoidectomy.

Emily J Bacalao¹, Nam K Lee¹, Juanantonio Ruiz¹

¹Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Otology & Neurotology : Official Publication of the American Otological Society, American Neurotology Society [And] European Academy of Otology and Neurotology

|October 28, 2025

Summary

Surgical drilling during otologic procedures can create inner ear noise exceeding 120 dBA, potentially causing acoustic trauma. These noise levels, especially at 1.33 kHz, may lead to hearing loss not detected by standard audiograms.

Keywords:

Acoustic trauma Intracochlear pressures Mastoidectomy Surgical drill

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Published on: May 23, 2021

Area of Science:

Otolaryngology
Audiology
Neurosurgery

Background:

Acoustic exposure during otologic surgery is not well understood.
Previous studies did not assess vibrational noise effects on the inner ear.

Purpose of the Study:

To measure intracochlear pressure changes during mastoidectomy and cochleostomy.
To quantify the acoustic exposure patients experience during otologic surgery.

Main Methods:

Fiber optic pressure sensors were placed in the cochlea of cadaveric heads.
Intracochlear pressures were measured during drilling, mastoidectomy, and cochleostomy.
Equivalent sound pressure levels (L Eq) were calculated, and microphones recorded sound levels.

Main Results:

Sound pressure levels could exceed 120 dBA, particularly during cochleostomy.
Broadband noise exposure was observed, with a peak at 1.33 kHz at 80k RPM drill speed.
Surgeon's ear noise levels did not consistently predict patient noise exposure.

Conclusions:

Surgically induced cochlear noise levels may cause acoustic trauma.
Noise exposure at specific frequencies (e.g., 1.33 kHz) could lead to hearing loss beyond traditional audiogram detection.
Data will inform guidelines for permissible noise exposure during otologic surgeries.