Reviewed by Mr. Ranjeet Kumar
Sr. Audiologist, Speech Therapist & Cochlear Implant Specialist, BASLP on
One of the very nasty kinds of pollution that not only humans but all the other living things on this planet can’t stand is noise pollution.
Well, believe it or not, we humans are solely responsible for creating ‘man-made environmental noise’ in our beautiful world and we now have to bear the consequences.
Noise is anything that is unbearable to our ears, which also leads to other health conditions such as psychological problems, trauma, depression, irritation, high blood pressure, and even something as fatal as a cardiac arrest (or heart attack) in people.
You can purchase the latest hearing aids at a fair price through HearingSol, If you need any assistance or you have a query regarding Hearing Loss, feel free to call us at +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.
As new inventions came along to make our lives much easier, there are many ways you can use to get prevention from noises that can cause harm to your ear or hearing and knowing that which sound or noise is harmful to you is the best and easiest way to keep your hearing safe by staying away from it or taking precautions for it.
In these steps, the best decibel meter app can give benefit to you as from this app you will be able to know that in how many sound decibels (Decibel is a unit to measure sound) you are in.
These are the apps to measure decibels of sound through which you can do decibel tests in your environment.
In this article, we are going to inform you about the effects of noise or noise pollution on us, which level of sound decibels you should not hear or hear for how much time and best and top sound meter decibel app that can give you accurate information about sound decibels around you at any time.
Why You Should Use The Decibel Meter App?
Hearing loss is the fourth highest cause of disability across the world. And it’s expected to get much worse. In the U.S alone, one in four adults show signs of noise-induced hearing loss.
One of the main reasons behind it is – all the noise that’s around us every day.
A potential limitation is there on these apps because it can not measure the maximum sound level, you may not be able to measure sounds over 90 dB. These are a good auxiliary option for most users.
This is the sound of traffic in India. People are exposed to these sounds on a regular basis. All these noises are really annoying and also killing your ears.
A certain level of sound is okay for your hearing, exceeding that level can prove to be harmful to your ears.
So technically saying, it is noise pollution which is harming your ears or hearing. Now let’s have a look at how is noise pollution is affecting your hearing and some other related important tips like which level of sound decibel you can expose and for how much time.
Noise Pollution Affecting Your Hearing
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the best way to protect your hearing is to limit noise levels to 70 decibels. And Hearing experts agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 dB will eventually harm you.
People ride public metros, trains, buses for hours every day or live near a construction site where drilling machines are making so much noise, it’s really really loud. As per the Times of India article, the busy ITO Junction in Delhi registers around 74 decibels of sound on a normal day.
A small hair cell transmits the electrical signal to your brain. These hair cells are often harmed or destroyed by an extremely loud noise like attending rock concerts, working with shop tools, and operating lawn mowing equipment.
Many extremely loud sounds, can destroy these delicate hair cells, resulting in hearing loss and even annoying tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.
To help yourself, you may put on earphones or headphones. But that doesn’t really help. Smartphones at maximum sound may produce noise up to 100 decibels. Using hearing protection devices such as earplugs can be useful in noisy conditions.
As per a report of the World Health Organization, a place with 105 decibels surrounding can damage your hearing in less than an hour. And the worst thing about hearing loss is that ear damage is irreversible.
Decibel is (abbreviated as dB, and also as DB) is a unit to measure the intensity of a sound by comparing it with a given level on a logarithmic scale.
A decibel or sound level meter is a device or instrument with a microphone used for sound test and measurement.
Now we will discuss which level we should or shouldn’t expose and for how much time it can listen without any harm.
Sound Decibel Exposure Time Guidelines
Following list represents the amount and time limit of an individual for sound exposure:
| Continuous dB | Permissible Exposure Time |
| 85 dB | 8 hours |
| 88 dB | 4 hours |
| 91 dB | 2 hours |
| 94 dB | 1 hour |
| 97 dB | 30 minutes |
| 100 dB | 15 minutes |
| 103 dB | 7.5 minutes |
| 106 dB | 3.75 minutes (<4 min) |
| 109 dB | 1.875 minutes (<2 min) |
| 112 dB | .9375 minutes (¬1 min) |
| 115 dB | .46875 minutes (¬30 sec) |
I hope, you have understood how too much loud noise can ruin your hearing. But how do you know when the sound level is too loud? How to measure the noise level?
Here in this article, you will get to know about the best dB meter app online to measure noise levels. These are the app to measure decibels. You can use them online or either install this application in your device (Android, iPhone).
If you are curious about the noise levels around you, dB meter apps will tell you exactly how much noise you are exposed to.
These noise level measurement apps make it easy to take control of your health and hearing by avoiding activities and locations that may be exposed to loud sounds.
A potential limitation is that because maximum decibel levels are limited by some devices, you may not be able to measure sounds over 90 dB. The decibel meter app is a good auxiliary option for most uses but is not recommended if you need to measure very high noise levels.
Most Accurate Decibel Meter App (Android)
Following is a list of Decibel meter apps which are available on Google Play for Android users:
1. Sound Level Meter
Available on Google Play
A sound level meter is one of the best sound meter app for android. It is one of the best SPL meter app which shows the decibel values by measuring the environmental noise and displays the measured dB values in various forms.
You can experience the measured decibel values in a tidy graphic design with a high frame using this app. The sound level meter app indicates decibel by gauge.
Now you must be thinking “how to calibrate sound meter app?” Well, this app helps you in this scenario by displaying all min/avg/max decibels values and it can calibrate decibel for each device.
2. Sound Meter & Noise Detector
Available on Google Play
This app will use the phone microphone to measure environmental noise decibels (dB) and show a value for reference. This app performs a simple operation that is easy to use. It is the best android decibel meter.
The high decibel value will be harmful to your physical and mental health and hearing function. You’d better avoid exposure in noisy environments.
3. Sound Meter – Decibel Meter & Noise Meter
Available on Google Play
The sound meter app uses your microphone to measure noise volume in decibels(dB). This app is said to be the best decibel meter for android through which you can easily measure the current level of environmental noise. The best helper to detect noise. Sound meter Features:
– Indicates decibel by gauge
– Display the current noise reference
– Display min/avg/max decibel values
– Display decibel by the graph, easy to understand
4. Sound Meter HQ
Available on Google Play
This app is considered to be a great app for noise level which measures the noise level of surroundings with the help of a built-in microphone. The result of the measurements is displayed in decibels on the screen of your phone. The calculated value of the noise level is displayed with the help of an indicator on the gauge.
The range of measurements from the environment is between 0-140 dB. Besides current measurement, the application displays also a minimum and maximum level of the sound. You can clear minimum and maximum measurements at any time by using the “Reset” button.
5. Sound Meter – Decibel
Available on Google Play
It measures the sound level of surrounding and measure noise level in decibels. It calculates the level of noise of the current environment. Its features include:
– Division Gage
– Bar Graph
– Chart Graph
– Display Min Max Average Decibel
– Display Measure Time
– Calibration Decibel
6. Sound Meter
Available on Google Play
It shows decibel values in various forms like green, yellow, and red indicators by measure the environmental noise for safety. With a smart sound meter app, you can experience an orderly graphic design with a high frame.
This app is a good auxiliary option for most uses. Google play provides it with a 4.7 rating. But we will not recommend if you need to measure very high noise levels.
7. Sound Meter Pro
Available on Google Play
It is an android app that is provided with a 4.4 rating by its users. It uses your Android’s microphone to measure levels of noise or sound pressure levels.
And displays measured data in dB with reference to generally known noise or displays the noise data on easy to read graph for the last 30 seconds of app use.
8. Too Noisy Pro
Available on Google Play
This app is for those people who try to keep the level of noise under the control of a group of youngsters. It is a simple, engaging, and fun app that kids enjoy and also respond to.
They have a “Session Timer” option by which the teachers are able to set a fixed time period for the noise of the classroom to be monitored. If the kids in the class keep their noises under the control level for the entire session then they will get 10 stars.
9. Decibel X
Available on Google Play
Decibel X is one of the very few sound meter apps on the market having highly reliable, pre-calibrated, accurate, and easily portable dBA measurements. It got a rating of 4.6 by its users.
The app displays Current, Average/Leq, and Max values with both nice and clear digital and analog layout with a standard measurement range from 30 to 130 dBA.
Each record can be exported as a PNG graph or CSV text via sharing services.
Decibel Meter App For iPhone
Following is a list of decibel meter apps which are available on iTunes for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users:
1. Noise Hunter
Available on iTunes
This app is one of the best sound meter app for iPhone which visualizes the sources of sound and defines the positions of the sources. The app transforms each iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad into a high-quality measuring device featuring a lot of practice-oriented functions.
It is a paid app with a 4+ rating from the users. This app is using beamforming technology to define the sound sources measured by multi-microphone array.
2. Decibel Meter – Measure dB Level
Available on iTunes
This app is known as the best dB meter for iPhone which is very easy to use at any time and anywhere and this app not only provide noise detection reference but also provides detection of location information.
This helps you in finding out the songs that are louder and harmful to your hearing. This app is compatible with iPad, iPad touch, and iPhones and it requires iOS 11.0.
3. Too Noisy Pro
Available on iTunes
4. Decibel X
Available on iTunes
5. Sound Meter – Noise Detector
Available on iTunes
This app measures the displays of the dB values in various forms by measuring the noise level. By using this app, you can also experience little graphic design along with a high frame.
This app is a newer version that brings you an improvement in performance and bug is being fixed. This app is compatible with iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone and it requires iOS 7.0.
6. Decibel – Accurate dB Meter
Available on iTunes
This is the best free decibel meter app that can turn your iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad into a professional sound decibel meter. It is also known as the best iPhone dB meter or best iPhone decibel meter which is capable of getting the accurate decibel levels. It can specifically measure the level of sound pressure around you.
This app is updated for XS, XR, and Max also. It requires iOS 8.0 and compatible with iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad.
7. NIOSH Sound Level Meter
Available on iTunes
Developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), this app is exclusive to the iPhone and is a useful tool for anyone working in noisy environments.
The app underwent extensive laboratory testing in order to meet the approved criteria for sound measurement, within 2dB of a type 1 sound meter). If used with a calibrated external microphone, the app has proven to work within 1dB of the type 1 sound meter.
Key benefits of NIOSH Sound Level Meter App
- Raises worker’s awareness.
- Enables workers to make informed decisions about potential hazards.
- Serves as a research tool to collect noise exposure data.
- Promotes better hearing health and prevention measures.
Noise pollution is much worse for you than you think. In 2016, 54.5% of the world’s population lived in cities. By 2030, it will cross 60%. Noise pollution can be found anywhere, but it is especially bad in cities.
Start using any of the sound monitoring equipment to measure loud sounds around you. Try to protect your ears & be healthy.
If you think, your hearing had been already affected, try visiting our hearing clinic to have your hearing tested.
You can purchase the latest hearing aids at a fair price through HearingSol, If you need any assistance or you have a query regarding Hearing Loss, feel free to call us at +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.