The term auditory threshold usually means the minimum sound pressure level needed to sense the presence of an acoustic stimulus. Most of us are familiar with this type of auditory threshold through the experience of having a hearing test. In the most common type of hearing test, the minimum sound pressure level (SPL, specified in decibels or dB) needed to detect the presence of pure tones (sine waves having clear pitches) is measured for tones varying from low to high frequencies (frequency is the physical attribute of sound most closely corresponding to perceived pitch). Usually, this type of hearing test is performed while the listener wears earphones so that each ear can be tested separately.

Representative population values for the minimum detectable SPL for pure tones ...