Abstract
The induction of vibratory sensation is a characteristic of low-frequency
noise. In this pilot study we measured the threshold levels to induce
a vibratory sensation in normal-hearing subjects exposed to pure
tones within a narrow frequency range (20-50 Hz). The threshold levels
necessary to induce a vibratory sensation were found to be 5-17 dB(SPL)
higher than the hearing threshold levels; these vibratory sensation
levels were lower than the sensation threshold levels in deaf subjects
previously measured by another research group. This difference suggested
the possibility that the function of the hearing organs is related
to the perception of vibration in normal-hearing persons exposed
to low-frequency noise. Our study showed that the head was the part
of the body in which the vibratory sensation was most often experienced,
which supported the idea that the hearing organs may contribute to
the normal-hearing person's perception of vibratory sensation. Another
interesting finding of our study was a dip appearing in the threshold
level for the vibratory sensation at 40 Hz. This was broadly in agreement
with another group's result that sensitivity to vibration was greatest
at frequencies between 40 and 80 Hz.
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