Not from NIOSH
It was ultimately on me to notice the developer's name, which is clearly stated. Apple could consider labeling official Apps from organizations and institutions more clearly, similar to YouTube labeling a music video "official version" to distinguish it from other videos.
Response from developer
Thanks for the thoughtful review. You are correct that this is not the official NIOSH app. This app is independently developed, but it does use the official NIOSH occupational noise standards and methodology as the basis for its measurements and exposure calculations. Different readings between apps can still happen because of microphone hardware, calibration, device processing, weighting/averaging settings, and phone position, especially in very quiet rooms. Your feedback is fair, and I am using it to make the app’s identity and standards basis clearer so it is easier to understand what the app is and what it is not.
Wrong
Response from developer
Thank you for your feedback. The accuracy of any decibel meter app is limited by the microphone hardware built into your device, and our app uses the highest quality readings available from that hardware. To help users who want more control, the Pro version offers professional calibration tools, smart safety alerts that run in the background, detailed noise exposure history, and an ad-free experience. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and we’ll continue working to make the app as useful and accurate as possible within the limits of each device.
