Noise Control and the Decibel

One of the pioneers in measuring and understanding sound intensity was Harvey Fletcher. In the 1920s, Fletcher was concerned about increasing noise in city streets and its effect on human hearing. In 1929, he began to record and measure sounds around New York City. His work led to noise ordinances and other changes to reduce noise on city streets. It also helped establish the decibel system still used today.

Understanding and measuring sound intensities is essential to healthy hearing. Whether you’re on a construction site, at a rock concert, or just on a busy street, it’s important to know how the sounds around you affect your hearing.

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