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Table 2: Audiometric hearing thresholds of normal ears: conversion of dB SPL into dB HL

(Extracted from ISO, 2003)

Pure-tone audiometric thresholds are expressed in dB HL (hearing level). The differences between dB HL and dB SPL, arise from isophonic curves.

Frequency [Hz] dB SPL dB HL
250  12 0
500 > 5 0
1000   2 0
2000 - 2 0
4000 - 5 0
8000 13 0

Source: SCENIHR,  Potential health risks of exposure to noise from personal music players and mobile phones including a music playing function (2008) , 3.3.3.3, Page 18