Final answer:
Hearing loss can be quantified through hearing tests, with normal hearing at 0 dB, and exposure to 80 dB or higher can damage hearing over time. A woman needing amplification of 5.0 × 10¹² experiences a hearing loss of about 127 dB.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hearing loss develops over time and can be caused by exposure to sounds of certain decibel levels (dB). Hearing tests measure hearing threshold changes in dB, with normal hearing registering as 0 dB across all frequencies. Exposure to sounds at or above 80 dB can harm hearing over time. Age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis, worsens at higher frequencies, particularly affecting music appreciation and speech recognition. Noise-induced hearing loss often manifests with a dip around 4000 Hz.
For the question at hand, calculate the hearing loss in dB when a woman needs amplification of 5.0 × 10¹² times the threshold intensity: