What does dB HL express?

The measurement dB HL, or decibels Hearing Level, specifically refers to the threshold levels of hearing in an individual. This unit is used to determine the lowest intensity of sound that a person can detect at various frequencies. By defining hearing sensitivity against a reference level (typically the average normal hearing threshold for a specific range of frequencies), dB HL provides a standardized way to assess hearing ability. It is essential for audiometric evaluations and helps in diagnosing hearing loss by indicating how much louder sounds need to be for an individual to hear them compared to a baseline of typical hearing.

Sound quality, frequency levels, and sound intensity refer to different aspects of audiology but do not specifically express thresholds of hearing sensitivity in the context that dB HL does. Sound quality relates to the characteristics of sound as perceived by the listener, while frequency levels measure the pitch of the sound, and intensity pertains to the loudness of sound. Each of these concepts plays a role in hearing science, but dB HL is uniquely focused on measuring an individual's hearing threshold.