Audio sample of Hearing Loss

Listen carefully to the following sample. Try to figure out when the sounds changes from what we normally hear to what is one of the most common forms of deafness. Frequencies beginning at 500 Hz begin to be filtered out. Frequencies at 1000 Hz are attenuated by 12 dB and at 2000 Hz, the ear hears nothing. Since the frequencies between 500 Hz and 4000 Hz are the most important for speech, what do you think it will sound like?

The recording was taken from a concert by the Lexington Singers with the Lexington Singers Children's Choir. The first 45 seconds are recorded as if your hearing is normal. You will easily be able to hear the diction of the choir and the cymbals and glockenspiel. But what happens when the recording imitates deafness? Can you understand what the choir is singing? Can you hear the cymbals and glockenspiel? Can you hear the change of the timbre when the children sing with the adult choir? Does it sound as loud as before?

Are you ready? Then let's listen to the choir.