Main -> In the Classroom: Sensation -> Hearing Demos

Hearing Damage Demo. (Original: Sue Frantz)

I used to teach the ear in Intro Psych, then I didn't, then with the popularity of MP3 players, I'm back teaching it. 

My department bought a decibel meter from Radio Shack for $50. After I talk about the ear, I show photos, like these here, of damaged cilia in the cochlea, then I show a chart, like this one, that estimates risk of damage by decibel level. Then I ask students to turn their MP3 players to the loudness level they typically use, and I measure the decibels for them, showing the level to the class using an opaque projector. 

I also play 3 tones, 17,000 Hz, 16,000 Hz, and 15,000 Hz. (Right click the links to download the audio files.) Those of us with damage to the cilia closest to the oval window can't hear the highest pitched sounds. I once had a 23 year old student who worked as a bouncer in a bar who couldn't hear any of them. 

I've had several students report that they've turned their music down as a result of this demo.