Editorial Standards
We want you to know exactly who writes our articles, where the numbers come from, and what we will not claim. This page exists so you can decide how much to trust what you read here.
Who Writes Our Content
All articles on Snap Decibel Meter are written and reviewed by the Snap Decibel Meter Team — the small team behind this website and the noise-measurement tool.
We are not audiologists, otolaryngologists, or acoustic engineers. We are people who care about hearing health and who built a free tool to help others become more aware of their sound environment. We do not pretend to be medical professionals, and we do not give medical advice.
If you have specific concerns about your hearing, tinnitus, or noise-related health symptoms, please consult a licensed audiologist or your physician.
Where Our Numbers Come From
Decibel ranges, exposure limits, and hearing-damage thresholds in our articles are sourced from publicly available publications by recognized authorities. The primary sources we rely on are:
- OSHA — Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US occupational noise exposure limits)
- NIOSH — National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (recommended exposure limits, 85 dB / 8h baseline)
- WHO — World Health Organization (global hearing-loss guidance and environmental noise standards)
- CDC — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (consumer-facing hearing-protection guidance)
- Peer-reviewed studies indexed on PubMed and PMC (cited where used)
When sources disagree on a number, we generally use the more conservative (safer) figure and note the range. Decibel levels for everyday objects (vacuum, leaf blower, etc.) are reported as ranges because real-world levels vary by model, distance, and environment.
How We Write and Update Articles
Our articles follow a consistent structure so readers can quickly find what they need: a quick answer at the top, a typical decibel range with context, hearing-risk implications, and practical guidance.
Articles are reviewed by the team before publication and updated when authoritative sources change their guidance. Each article shows an "Updated" date so you can see how recent the information is.
We use design tools and writing assistance to maintain consistency across the site, but every published article is reviewed by a human on our team for accuracy against our sources before it goes live.
What We Will Not Claim
To stay honest with you, we will never:
- Claim our team includes audiologists, doctors, or licensed acoustic engineers when it does not
- Present our browser-based meter as a certified or laboratory-grade instrument (it is not — see our Disclaimer)
- Use fake author names, fake credentials, or fake testimonials
- Fabricate research findings or invent statistics that do not exist in the cited sources
- Provide medical, legal, or regulatory advice
If you ever find a number on this site that does not match its cited source, or a claim you think is misleading, please tell us — we will fix it.
Corrections and Feedback
Spotted an error, an outdated number, or a citation that does not check out? Email us at snapdecibelmeter@gmail.com and we will review and correct it.
We treat corrections as a normal part of running a useful site, not a failure. Pointing out a mistake helps us — and every other reader who comes after you.