Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: Lolo Thev on 19/10/2016 07:47:23

Title: How can I mitigate the effects of sound on me?
Post by: Lolo Thev on 19/10/2016 07:47:23

I am needed to learn what device or technology would be useful to block or lessen the effects of ultrasound waves. I have sensitive hearing and suspect someone may have one near me. I get headaches and feel nauseous. What do you suggest? The sound is barely audible but makes my legs shake and my ears ring.

Title: Re: How can I mitigate the effects of sound on me?
Post by: evan_au on 19/10/2016 09:34:16

Quote from: Lolo Thev

I have sensitive hearing

The first thing is to check your hearing, especially your high-frequency hearing.
- Once we reach adulthood, high-frequency hearing tends to decline.
- If you can't hear above 15kHz, you don't need to worry about ultrasound
- You can get hearing test apps for your favorite smartphone
- You could run a test on a laptop or desktop computer, but the high-frequency response of the speakers isn't very consistent
- Or you can get an audiologist to run one for you. Some places will do it for free, in the hope that you will need to buy a hearing aid (hopefully, from them!)

Quote

someone may have (an ultrasound generator) near me

You can get an ultrasonic spectrum analyzer on your smartphone.
- But you need a high-frequency microphone, and these aren't common (or cheap).
- The same equipment can also detect low-frequency sounds.
- Or you can obtain a "bat detector", which are aimed at nature lovers, and cover a wide range of ultrasound frequencies.

The good news is that high-frequency ultrasound gets attenuated fairly quickly through air.

Quote

I have sensitive hearing... I get headaches and feel nauseous...The sound is barely audible but makes my legs shake and my ears ring.

I have heard of a condition where someone developed a break in one of the semi-circular canals in their middle ear.

This greatly increased their hearing sensitivity, so that even quiet noises (like a dripping tap) were overpowering. It also upset their balance and made them feel nauseous.

Closing the gap returned their hearing and balance to normal. It's not easy to get to the semi-circular canals (they are embedded in hard bone), but there are now techniques to repair them.

Quote

block or lessen the effects of ultrasound waves

Get some earplugs from your local hardware store.
- They reduce sound intensity of speaking tones by a factor of 100.
- Less so for low frequencies
- But I expect they would be more effective for ultrasound
- Just remember that with the earplugs in, every time you open your mouth, more sound will reach your ears via your mouth than what goes in via your (blocked) ear canal.

By the way, what evidence do you have that it is ultrasound that is bothering you?
- Is it correlated with sounds in the audible range?