Hocks Noise Brakers®

3930 SW Kelly Avenue
Portland, OR 97239
ph: 503-274-9482
fax: 503-222-3539
alt: 1-800-654-6257
contactus@noisebrakers.com

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Sound Created?
When an object vibrates in air, the air molecules are pushed and pulled by the object. This creates alternating high and low pressure areas that pass through the air in the form of sound waves. Think of these high and low pressure areas as vibrations in the air.
Sound waves can pass through other mediums (such as wood and water) as well. Basically, any object that can be vibrated can convey or produce sound waves.
When humans refer to sound, they are usually referring to sounds that are registered by the ear.

How Does Hearing Work?

When sound waves enter the ear, they travel up the ear canal, and hit the ear drum. The ear drum vibrates, and allows the three smallest bones in the human body to start working. These bones (ossicles), cause vibrations in the fluid in the inner ears sensory organ, the cochlea. The vibrating fluid causes sensory hair cells to vibrate, which in turn send nerve impulses to the brain. The brain translates these impulses and we perceive sound.

What is NRR?

The strength of hearing protection is given in its noise reduction rating (NRR).

The NRR indicates the average number of decibels sound will drop when inserted into your ear. The actual number that decibels will drop varies greatly depending on the pitch (the highness or lowness of sound), and volume.

What is a Decibel?

dec·i·bel: a unit used to express the intensity of a sound wave. Abbr. dB

What is Tinnitus?

Tinnitus is the term for the perception of sound in one or both ears when there is no external sound, often referred to as ringing in the ears. The "ringing" can be a soft background noise, or an overpowering noise that drowns out all other sounds, and can be ocassional or constant. The false data may be translated as a range of sounds, from ringing to whistling to buzzing, pulsing, hissing, clicking, or chirping, and usually accompanies hearing loss.

See Tinnitus

What is a Noise Braker®?

The Noise Braker® is a filter, allowing air and sound to enter the ear, while protecting the wearer's hearing. The Noise Braker® is designed to reduce the intensity of sound waves as the sound waves get stronger, while allowing the wearer to carry on a normal conversation. The normal voice can be heard with slight reduction of volume, while the background noise is filtered out to a greater extent.

Normal hearing protection seals off the ear with an insulating material, such as foam, or silicone, thus blocking sound from entering the ear. Ears are protected, but a few problems can come as a result. People have to shout at each other in order to carry on a conversation, and workers are sometimes unable to hear warning shouts or alarms.

Having the ear completely sealed off can leave a stuffy, plugged up feeling. The Noise Braker® was created to help with these problems.

__________