This book has been written to provide an intro­ Chapter 2 deals with the mechanism of hear­ duction to the fundamental concepts of sound ing and the subjective rating of sound, includ­ and a comprehensive coverage whereby un­ ing age-related and noise-induced hearing loss. wanted sound (noise) can be controlled. Al­ Assessment of any noise problem involves a though there are many notable textbooks which knowledge of the instrumentation available for deal primarily with the physics (or theory) of measurements, the limitations of this instru­ sound, and others which treat noise control in mentation, the appropriate procedures for mak­ a strictly practical (and sometimes even empir­ ing the measurements with the instrumentation, ical) manner, there are few textbooks that pro­ and the methods by which the measured data vide a bridging between the necessary under­ can be analyzed. Chapter 3 provides an up-to­ standing of the fundamentals of sound (its date coverage of these requirements, including generation, propagation, measurement) and the a section on one of the newest and most valu­ application of these fundamentals to its control. able tools in noise studies-sound intensity This book provides that link. measurement. The capability of being able to The text presents noise control primarily at measure sound intensity as compared with con­ the introductory level.