Properties of sound.
Basic concepts about sound exposure are reviewed without extensive reliance on the technical details of physical acoustics or psychoacoustics. The frequencies and intensities of sounds that might be encountered in a hospital nursery are described. Examples of the nonlinear properties of sound levels are provided. The complexities of adding and subtracting decibels are discussed. Some important noise standards are reviewed, along with an explanation of why some sounds might be more annoying than others. A companion article in this issue gives practical information on how to make sound-level measurements.
Gray
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Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, 6431 Fannin Street, Suite 5.003, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
D000162:Acoustics; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009622:Noise; D012015:Reference Standards; D013016:Sound; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration