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How to Measure High-Frequency Noise

High-frequency noise is commonly known as ultrasound, namely a frequency which is out of hearing range but that we can sense based on our perception and or sensitivity to varying sound frequencies. This noise is often inaudible to the average adult human ear, but is innocuously generated by everyday devices around our homes and offices such as laser printers and photocopiers. We all know that dog whistles emit high frequencies that are undetectable to the human ear but affect dogs greatly. Because these sounds are ubiquitous and often undetectable without a proper device, people are often unaware of how these frequencies affect their behavior and or their health.

Things You'll Need

Sound level meter

Instructions

- 1
  Press the "Start" button on your sound meter. The LCD display will list the surrounding sound level. It lists the minimum and maximum sounds levels to show you the dominant sound wave frequency and the most extreme range. The maximum sound that is registered is the high-frequency noise of a given area.
- 2
  Record and capture different sound readings for given areas within the workplace and or home. Depending on your sound meter you can easily log a number of different sound readings to provide a comprehensive sound map for the space. High-frequency noise will register in the 100 KHz to 100 MHz range, but knowing specifically where these sounds are generated will help you correct the nuisance to your well-being in the workplace or home.
- 3
  Place the detector in specific areas that might contain leaks of high-pressure air to test if that is the source of the high frequencies. Use a specialized microphone attached to a receiver and transmitter to sweep the suspected area for a leak. Ultrasound detectors are specialized to detect the source of the high-frequency leak or pressure system so that the problem can be corrected in the workplace. Operating in the 40 KHz range, the ultrasound detected will act like a sonar detector to map out the direction of the sound waves, allowing you to correct the leak with precision.

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