title: When is a decibel not a decibel?: The application of decibel scales and calibration in clinical audiology.
abstract: Decibel scales are a very important but potentially confusing subject for the clinician. Misunderstanding can, at worst, lead to inappropriate management which is detrimental to the patient. This paper sets out, from the viewpoint of an acoustician, the calibration and meaning of the various decibel scales in common use, shows how they are applied to the clinical setting, and explains their limitations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Audiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beynon
mesh_terms: D001298:Audiology / Q000592:standards*; D001299:Audiometry; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D002138:Calibration; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013016:Sound; D014894:Weights and Measures