Can inaudible very high frequency sound (> 20,000 KHz) cause hearing loss?

Question

My mother has very sensitive hearing, and she lives right next to a new building that has generators put outside inside what, to me, is a sound proof container. My mother says the sound drives her crazy and that it is very loud. And her hearing seems to have been negatively affected by it. I was wondering if there was a practical way to check the sound frequency and intensity and if it was known whether very high frequency sound would cause hearing loss, with any references if possible.

Answer 1

This may be a terrible problem to deal with. She may be hearing a harmonic of the freqency. Human hearing doesn't extend that far, but some people's ear bones seem to sympathetic to certain harmonics. Recent research has shown that thier are some frequencies only teenagers can hear but I am pretty sure that it's not nearly that high. The best bet might be trying to put a heavy or high density non resonant sheet between her and the gen. You can buy "mass loaded plastic sheet" just for that sort of thing, Idealy you would just spray glue it to the side of the gen cabint, as the closer you get it to the source the less surface area it requires. As these high freq sounds are very "radiant" and tend to follow straight lines you might try getting a small piece of the plastic making a three side box for her head and shoulders and seeing if she notices a reduction in the sound while enclosed (open side away from gen) . If it does give relief you might want to demonstraight it for the owner of the gen and ask them to add a layer of it to the gen cabinet. Many localities have rules about the emitting of noxious sounds, but usualy you have to be able to prove the sound exists. Good luck

Answer 2

Hi. Very loud noises can damage hearing but that is not what this sounds like. Very QUIET noises that are still audible can drive you nuts. I have a neighbor with a heat pump and I can hear it all year long. Generators may have the same effect. If she can still hear it through the sound insulation try her with headphones (just to try it). I have noise canceling headphones that keep out the noise but can not be worn 24-7. You can try a sound pressure meter (cheap at Radio Shack) to see what the levels are and complain if the level shows up on the meter.

Answer 3

??? That's a ridiculous thing to say... Permanent hearing loss, absolutely not. Masturbation has NO effects other than relaxing you and letting you sleep better. If you're not hearing so well directly afterwards, just for a few minutes, then maybe there's a change in blood flow to your head (like when you stand up really fast after sitting for awhile), or... oh. I bet you're high on hormones and your nerves are buzzing and confused (that's what makes sexual activities feel good, after all. You get high on your own hormones). Don't worry about it at all. It's fine.