

(Note: For best results, you can purchase an external, calibrated microphone). The app uses the phone’s built-in microphone to give you real-time noise exposure data, which you can then save and share with others. However, it is free and available to the general public. This app was developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to measure noise levels in the workplace for safety and health professionals.
Decibel rating chart how to#
As you decide how to protect your hearing, consider these apps, which can measure the noise levels around you to determine how many decibels is too loud. Luckily, a variety of decibel meter apps are available for smartphones.

We’re all very familiar with units of measurement, such as inches and pounds, but decibel levels can be harder to gauge. Learn about the science behind sound and how to protect your hearing here. This type of hearing loss often occurs gradually over time, making it hard to detect until the damage is already done. Sometimes it only affects one ear, while other times it affects both. NIHL can result from brief exposure to extremely high sound levels, or repeated exposure to loud noise over time. And as many as 40 million adults have hearing test results that indicate hearing loss from exposure to loud noise. In fact, 10 million Americans have noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)-the official term for permanent hearing loss caused by excessive noise. Even your favorite hobbies may involve amplified sound exposure: watching a live concert or the latest movie at the local theater spending an afternoon at the shooting range cheering on your team at a live sporting event.īut loud noise levels have the potential to damage your hearing, leading to temporary or permanent hearing loss. Loud sounds are all around us, from the roaring engines of lawnmowers to the clamor of construction sites. We live in an exciting and bustling world.
