Generally speaking, frequencies below 20 hz and above 20 khz are not audible, but can high enough amplitude of these frequencies damage our hearing?
In: Biology
Short answer:
ultra low frequencies yes, ultra high frequencies no.
Very high amplitude low frequency sound is essentially the shock wave from an explosion. A single pulse of a massive concussion wave can indeed rupture your ear drum and cause significant damage.
Very high amplitude HIGH frequency sound, however, can’t resonate with your eardrum and generate the vibrations necessary for you to experience any sound. Your inner ear fills with fluid to dampen the excessive movements of the ear drum, and too much of this without time to recoup actually softens the bones of the inner ear. This dampening fluid is why when you leave a rock concert everything sounds muffled. Since physical hearing damage is caused by your body reacting to your ear drum vibrating too much, if the sound waves don’t cause your eardrum to vibrate then nothing happens.
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