What is the measure of pressure of sound waves in the ear canal called?

The measure of pressure of sound waves in the ear canal is referred to as Sound Pressure Level. This term specifically relates to the pressure variation from atmospheric pressure that a sound wave creates and is typically expressed in decibels (dB). It represents how loud a sound is perceived by our auditory system, based on the logarithmic scale that quantifies sound intensity against a reference pressure. Sound Pressure Level is crucial in understanding how sound interacts with the ear, influencing auditory perception, and guiding the design of audio equipment and hearing protection.

Acoustic Pressure refers to the same concept but is often used in a more general context, while Sound Intensity relates to the power of the sound wave per unit area and Frequency Response describes how various frequencies are perceived in terms of loudness and clarity. Though all these terms are related to sound, Sound Pressure Level is the most precise term for the pressure of sound waves specifically in the context of the ear canal.