EXERCISE III: The Auditory Senses

  1. Perceived Loudness across the Frequency Spectrum

You will be using a really awesome hearing test from New South Wales College in Australia.

1. Click on the link: http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/hearing.html

2. When you get there, scroll down to the red graphic. Humans can hear from 20Hz to 20,000 (20K) Hz. This test will not explore the top frequencies. We will do that in Part B. You will see those frequencies from left to right. Up and down represents loudness in decibels.

3.Attach your headphones to the computer's headphone jack. Open the audio properties, uncheck "mute" and turn the volume all the way up.

4. Follow the instructions below the graph. Read them carefully before beginning!!

5. Record your results by shading in the corresponding squares on the data sheet.

 

  1. Hearing Loss at High Frequencies
    1. Go to my website under Anatomy / Web Links / Nervous System / Hearing Test
    2. Plug a set of headphones into the computer.
    3. Open the Volume controls on your computer and turn the volume down to about ¼.
    4. With the headphones on, click on each of the tones from 8000 Hz to 22357 Hz. Adjust the volume as necessary.
    5. Record the highest frequency sound that you can hear with your left ear.
    6. Repeat the process with the headphones turned to the right ear and record your results.
    7. Answer the follow up questions.