Do We Feel Pain from Inaudible Noises?

[bassplayer142]

We all know that you feel pain as volume increases. Whether it is loud bass or a really loud siren you can feel the pain. Do we feel pain from noises that our ears cannot receive. Say, a dog whistle that is out of a humans hearing range. Does it not cause pain or is it not loud enough to do the trick.

 

[mgb_phys]

No because you don't respond to it. It's not the volume but the fact that hairs in your ears can't vibrate fast enough to absorb (much) energy at that frequency.
Although it would be possible to do damage from very high powers of ultrasonic sound.

 

[Gokul43201]

The body can, in theory, respond to frequencies that auditory sensors are insensitive to.

 

[Danger]

Ultrasound can cause all kinds of pain, from headaches and toothaches right through to unconsciousness. It depends upon the power, the frequency, and harmonics.
Infrasound generally doesn't hurt as much, but it can cause nausea, anxiety, anger, and other unpleasant conditions.

 

[mgb_phys]

I was thinking that there was a different mechanism for pain as in 'Ouch that's a loud noise' and actual damage due to the absorbed power - is that correct?