Sound intensities in hearing aids

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion revolves around calculating the decibel increase produced by a hearing aid with a sound gathering area of 900 cm² and an eardrum area of 0.5 cm², factoring in a 5% efficiency in sound transmission. The formula used is sound level = 10 log(final intensity/initial intensity). The user initially struggles with converting areas into intensities but later resolves the issue after realizing a calculator error. The relationship between power and intensity is also questioned, highlighting the importance of understanding these concepts in acoustics.

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Acoustic engineers, audiologists, hearing aid manufacturers, and anyone involved in sound technology and hearing aid design.

slaw155
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What decibel increase does a hearing aid produce if its sound gathering area is 900cm^2, the area of the eardrum is 0.5cm^2, but it only has an efficiency of 5% in transmitting sound to the eardrum?

I know sound level = 10log(final intensity/initial intensity), but we've only been given areas, so I don't know how to convert these into intensities to find change in sound level?
 
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I think you'll say that the power it collects at the input is transferred across to the output, with an efficiency of 5%.

Q: How is Power related to Intensity?

You don't happen to have been given the correct answer? It's always handy ...
 
Thanks solved it turns out I made a mistake on my calculator.
 

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