Minimiäänitaso

Minimiäänitaso, often translated as minimum sound level or minimum audible level, refers to the lowest sound pressure level that a human ear can detect under specific conditions. This threshold is not a fixed value but varies depending on several factors, including the frequency of the sound, the duration of exposure, and individual hearing ability.

The minimum audible level is typically measured in decibels (dB). For pure tones at frequencies between 1 kHz and 4 kHz, which are crucial for speech intelligibility, the average human hearing threshold is around 0 dB. However, at very low or very high frequencies, the ear becomes less sensitive, and the minimum audible level increases. For example, at 20 Hz, the threshold might be as high as 60 dB, and at 20 kHz, it could be around 40 dB.

Age and exposure to loud noise can also significantly impact an individual's minimum audible level, leading to hearing loss. Understanding the minimiäänitaso is fundamental in fields such as audiology, acoustics, and noise control engineering, as it helps in setting standards for noise exposure and in assessing hearing impairment. It serves as a baseline for measuring how loud a sound needs to be for it to be perceived by a person.