I assume that was meant in jest? I certainly intended no offense to anyone. Men on average do have lower voices, that is not good or bad, just one of the differences between genders. I do not have children, and a crying child gets my attention much quicker than people I know who have children. I am not suggesting anything anti-children, it is their first way communicating, and valuable for them to get attention should they be hurt, etc. Apologies to anyone I could have somehow offended unintentionally. "Shrill" is a legitimate term commonly used to describe perceptions of tones/pitch. My point was that hearing damage happens from extremely loud (well over 100 db) single noises such as gun fire, or from long term exposure to constant sounds, such as people experience from loud factories where machines may run constantly for entire shifts. The fact that the 4KHz pitch of the Spectralis gets our attention is due to it is in the upper mid-range, where we are very sensitive. As for say a vacuum, which housekeepers use intermittently (much like Spectralis users) hours each day, is generally around 60-70 dbs, louder than the Spectralis, though a lower frequency. These volume levels are not really a concern for hearing protection, particularly as it is turned on and off during even busy days. -j ________________________________ From: Ethan Priel <prieleye@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sun, July 17, 2011 11:52:21 AM Subject: [optimal] Re: Spectralis Yes, you know your audio, and you also skirted a potentially sticky PC issue…not to mention the children's rights activists. E From:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jef Jodell Sent: 17 July, 2011 23:49 To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [optimal] Re: Spectralis The issue is both dbs and frequency. The frequency is 4000 Hertz (4Kz). Human hearing goes from 20 H to 20Kz. We are most sensitive to 1K Hz, just as we are most sensitive to green in light wavelengths. Human voices (male) tend to be centered around 800-1000Hz, and easy to hear. Women's voices are slightly higher, generally speaking, but around 4KHz is what we start to consider "shrill", as in a child crying. You get used to it. Only repeated constant exposure (sitting at it "on" for hours at a time) could cause any issue, and it would take decades to cause a problem. I know my audio. -j ________________________________ From:"blutmancra@xxxxxxxxxxx" <blutmancra@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Sun, July 17, 2011 10:25:41 AM Subject: [optimal] Re: Spectralis When I started to work with heidelberg systems it was annoying but you get use to it. Health end of it I really won't know. I figure heidelberg sells the product is not to harm operators or patient hearing. I guess you have to research to see if there was any complaints of hearing loss etc. Maybe there should be a study started. Brian Lutman,CRA Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ________________________________ From: Raymond Mok <raywmok@xxxxxxxxx> Sender: optimal-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 09:14:09 -0400 To: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ReplyTo: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [optimal] Re: Spectralis Our office have just installed the Spectralis. I'd noticed the high pitched noise but didn't bothered much. However one of the tech said as soon as we click the "yellow" icon, the high pitched sound gave her spitting headache. I agree the high pitched sound is in the safety zone but does bothered some people. Ray MokCRA, COMT Ophthalmic Photographer DHMC-Ophthalmology On Jul 16, 2011, at 8:21 PM, Ray Gardner <raygardner99@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: No I've got four and about to have six in my office. The Spectralis has a sound like that of a hearing aid whining but causes no hearing problems. Its just annoying at first then after a while you seem not to notice it any more. The HRA was much loader and gave off a lot of heat. Thing of the Spectralis as the Ferrari of cameras it has a strange sound but runs and does like no other camera can. If you need any help you can call me. (806) 676-9793 > >Sent from my iPhone > >On Jul 16, 2011, at 4:06 PM, robertsantora <rbsantora@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: >To All, >> >>Is there any concerns about the high pitched frequency sound from the >>Spectralis >>causing potential harm? I have suggested discreet protective ear wear by >>anyone >>that is uncomfortable around the sound. I was asked by our docs to start a >>thread to see how other offices are addressing this. Thanks