What’s The Noise All About? A Review of Apple’s Noise App.
In October 2019 Apple added the noise app to its health tech suite. This welcome edition throws a much-needed spotlight on hearing health and wellness by providing a tool to detect ambient noise levels in everyday environments and provide warning if the sound is at an unsafe level. Since its release, I’ve found myself using the noise app several times a day. I continue to encourage my family and friends to use it especially those that I know find themselves in loud environments daily.
The highlights of the noise app are if used correctly it will help limit excessive noise exposure that can contribute to hearing loss over time. It is easy to use and once enabled it works in the background to notify you when sound is considered unsafe.
So, What’s It All About?
The noise app is available on Apple’s watchOS6 for Apple Watch Series 4 or newer models.
The Apple watch monitors ambient noise every 30 seconds using a microphone on the watch. It works in the background sampling sound throughout your day and it provides a notification when the sound is deemed “loud.” The default setting of notification is when the sound exceeds a level of 90 dB over a 3-minute time-frame. Apple uses the recommendations set by the World Health Organization to determine exposure limitations, these recommendations are commonly used in hearing healthcare and the two measurements most important are the noise level and the amount of time you are exposed to that noise level (read more about this here). The default settings can be changed, however I do not recommend changing the default setting.
Real-time ambient noise levels can be displayed by accessing the noise app on the iPhone however, for quick access enable the noise app complication on the watch face. You can also access the noise app by using Siri “open noise app.” The real-time display provides you with a nice visual and quick check of noise levels. Data recorded from the noise app such as noise levels, the daily average of the noise levels and the noise range is stored on the iOs13 health app for detailed analysis. Data recorded should alert you of any trends or environments you may need to pay special attention to. If you find yourself exceeding recommended noise levels the action to take is remove yourself from the noise or the environment immediately. If you can’t remove yourself from the noise then ear protection should be worn. Download the All Things Hear Checklist for Healthy Hearing in Noise for more detailed steps to take and this blog post about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.
Privacy
Should always be a concern and it’s important to note Apple does NOT record, save or share sound data collected. All measurements and analysis of the environmental noise are done on the watch. However, if you’re at all concerned you can enable privacy and to completely turn off sound measurements, turn off Environmental Sound Measurements.
The apple noise app user guide is available here.
Lastly, be aware that wind and water can affect sound measurements and the watch will not take measurements when the microphone or speaker is in use or when it is is water lock mode.