Final answer:
A person with a 50-dB hearing loss at all frequencies requires sounds to be amplified by a factor of 10^5 times the threshold intensity. Decibel levels define the intensity of sounds on a logarithmic scale, and common sounds have been exemplified at different dB levels. Amplification needs to be adjusted based on sound intensity to avoid further hearing damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Hearing Loss and Sound Amplification
When a person has a 50-dB hearing loss at all frequencies, it implies that sounds need to be amplified significantly so that they can be heard as a person with normal hearing would hear them. Decibels (dB) represent a logarithmic scale; for every increase of 10 dB, the intensity of the sound increases by a factor of 10. Therefore, for a person with a 50-dB hearing loss, sounds need to be amplified by a factor of 105 times the threshold intensity for them to perceive the sound as normal.
For lower intensity sounds that are barely audible to a person with normal hearing, the amplification needed would be at the maximum level described above. However, more intense sounds require lower levels of amplification to prevent further hearing damage, acknowledging that amplification should not exceed levels that could lead to additional damage, particularly above 90 dB. For instance, common ambient sounds are at 10 dB for running fingers through hair, at 50 dB for a quiet home, and 100 dB for the take-off of a jet plane.
The decibel level at which people with normal hearing can start to hear sound is defined as 0 dB, this is because the reference intensity I0 is set at 10-12 W/m2. In the provided examples, some individuals require specific amplifications, as much as 5.0 × 1012 times the threshold intensity, indicating significant hearing loss which is quantified in decibels.