Negotiating with a teen-How do you measure voice volume?

amother

Thu, Aug 30 2007, 9:59 am

We've decided on assigning consequences for our teen daughter. One of the annoying things she does is raises her voice. I say pick your pleasure-computer time or raising voice. How do you measure voice volume? She answers "this is the way I talk, you're the one that's yelling when I am really not yelling at all". Other things (bad language) can be defined and measured. How do you measure volume?

greenfire

Thu, Aug 30 2007, 10:06 am

I'm not sure but I have the opposite problem ... I can tell my kids things and they say but you're yelling ... I am not ... I have a loud voice ... can't cut out my voice box ... so ... they really need to know the difference between loud voice and screaming ... and when they tell me I'm screaming - I get so pissed that I want to scream on the top of my lungs - just to show them the difference ...

it's all too easy to see others shortcomings - ironically - even if they have them too ...

morningstar

Thu, Aug 30 2007, 10:30 am

Here's a product that responds to decibel level that is designed for classrooms but should work at home as well.
Flashes yellow if you go above the ( adjustable) preset decibel level... siren goes off if more than 15 decibels above preset level.
You may discover that your problem is not voice volume but tone of voice... but why not google this product and give it a try?

Yacker Tracker®

Yacker Tracker

The Yacker Tracker features an adjustable sound level meter.

The Yacker Tracker is self-standing or wall-mounted.

The Yacker Tracker includes an AC adapter.

The Yacker Tracker has appeared in USA Today®, Newsweek, and Teaching K-8 Magazine.

This unique 17-inch traffic light is perfect for teachers to monitor noise levels in the classroom.
The Yacker Tracker looks like a genuine stoplight and can stand on its own or be wall mounted.
Features an adjustable sound level meter (effective from 40 dB to 120dB).
The teacher sets the sound level and the green light stays lit
until noise in the room goes above the set level,
then the green light goes off and the yellow light flashes.
When the noise level reaches 15 dB above the set level,
the red light and siren are activated.
The user has the option of turning the siren sound off,
which also makes this a great visual aid for hearing impaired students.
Includes an AC Adapter and six replacement bulbs.
Does not use batteries. Requires an AC electrical wall outlet.

"The Yacker Tracker has been a life-saver for me as a substitute teacher!
Not only does it create interest as something new,
it has made my life easier as an incentive for good behavior and a quiet classroom."