Temporary threshold shifts from mid-frequency airborne noise exposures in seals

To evaluate the residual effects of airborne noise, hearing thresholds were obtained before and after noise exposure using behavioral psychophysics for two phocid carnivores: a northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). The seals were trained to position calmly during exposure to octave-band white noise centered at 1 or 2.5 kHz with varying level (65 to 125 dB sensation level, SL) and duration (1.5 to 50 min). Threshold shifts were determined at the center frequency of the noise band as the difference between detection thresholds measured prior to and following noise exposure. Results indicated that (1) neither seal exhibited consistent recoverable hearing loss (temporary threshold shift, TTS) to noise levels < 85 dB SL or durations below 12 min; (2) an equal-energy relationship between noise level and duration did not predict observed patterns of TTS; and (3) the harbor seal demonstrated two distinct responses to noise, with the sound exposu..., , , # Temporary threshold shifts from mid-frequency airborne noise exposures in seals

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.f4qrfj759](10.5061/dryad.f4qrfj759)

## Description of the data and file structure

To evaluate the residual effects of airborne noise on pinnipeds, hearing thresholds were obtained for two seal subjects before and after exposure to mid-frequency, octave-band noise in an acoustic chamber. Behavioral psychophysical methods were used to cooperatively evaluate hearing. Temporary threshold shift (TTS) was measured as the difference between a seal's pre-exposure hearing threshold and the subsequent post-exposure hearing threshold at the center frequency of the noise band.  

The datasets included here comprise raw hearing thresholds and TTS measurements for all noise level/duration conditions, supplementary heart rate measurements for the harbor seal subject, and supplementary video data of the harbor seal subject's meatal opening during testing.

Additional details are provided in ...,