We are surrounded by sound daily. Agreeable sounds from our music players or the early cooing of a bird can make for a pleasant experience. On the other hand, disagreeable sounds like the screech of a braking car or the noise from an oncoming train will make you want to put your hands over your ears. Besides being a source of irritation, noise can pose a severe health risk. Sound is measured in decibels (dB), and continuous exposure to sounds over 85 dB can lead to some form of hearing loss. The sound from a normal conversation is around 60 dB while a ringing telephone or the sound of urban traffic is approximately 80 dB. An ambulance siren measures around 120 decibels and a jet engine at takeoff or the sound of a shotgun is up to 140 decibels. You can be smarter about your noise exposure and protect yourself from harmful sounds by using a sound measurement app. For instance, the Sound Meter app calibrates itself to your device and provides visible evidence of sound intensity using color indicators and a gauge for more specific information.

Also, the impact of noise on children’s development can be severe. Prolonged exposure to loud sounds can significantly impact children’s hearing, learning, and overall behavior. Noise-induced hearing loss affects kids’ speech, language, and their ability to learn practical skills. On the playground, kids are exposed to noise levels of up to 115 decibels, and this is comparable to the noise in a busy subway or a rock concert. You can protect your kids from playground noise and help them achieve great results by using the Too Noisy Pro app. This app is designed for measuring noise levels at daycares and schools. Also, teachers can learn how to measure sound using this app and set a limit above which the noise level must not rise. An audible alarm goes off if the kids make noise above the set limit for more than three seconds.

Finally, exposure to noise in the workplace is responsible for the majority of noise-related hearing impairments. People who work on construction sites, in bars, and in sporting arenas are typically exposed to higher noise levels than the rest of the population. In the United States alone, over 22 million people are exposed to dangerous noise levels annually. For this reason, the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app is designed for use in the workplace. It uses the built-in microphone in your device to measure occupational noise exposure. The data is represented in weighted decibels, which give you an idea of the harmful noise level around you. The app also comes with information on other noise reduction methods users can adopt to minimize their exposure to hazardous noise in the workplace and elsewhere.