kuulmiskünniseid

Kuulmiskünnis, also known as the hearing threshold, refers to the minimum sound intensity that a human or animal can detect. It is typically measured in decibels (dB) and is a crucial indicator of auditory sensitivity. The average human hearing threshold at 1000 Hz, considered the most sensitive frequency range for human hearing, is around 0 dB. However, this threshold can vary significantly depending on factors such as age, exposure to loud noises, and underlying health conditions.

Different frequencies have different hearing thresholds. For instance, humans are generally less sensitive to very low and very high frequencies compared to the mid-range frequencies. This means that a sound at a lower frequency needs to be louder to be perceived than a sound at a mid-range frequency. The lowest intensity at which a sound can be heard is not a fixed value but a point of probability, meaning that a sound at this intensity will be detected about 50% of the time.

Audiologists use various tests, such as pure-tone audiometry, to determine an individual's hearing threshold across a range of frequencies. These measurements help diagnose hearing loss and assess its severity. Understanding kuulmiskünnis is fundamental in audiology, acoustics, and various fields of neuroscience, providing insights into the mechanisms of hearing and the impact of auditory impairments.