Lower Versus Higher Cost Sound Level Meters for the Calibration of Clinical Sound Pressure Level Measurements

Purpose: Clinical measurements of voice/speech sound pressure level (SPL) require calibration. However, relatively expensive sound level meter (SLM) may be required, which can be problematic for clinicians with limited resources. Method: This study therefore compared performance (correlation and error) of 11 lower cost mobile communication device (MCD)–based SLMs (SLM MCD ; without or with miniature measurement microphones and dedicated software) with Class 2 SPL measurements. Results: Only three SLM MCD s provided accurate SPL measurements. In four other SLM MCD s, response was nonlinear. Conclusion: SPL measurements with low-cost and MCD-based SLMs can be accurate, but, in this study, only for miniature measurement microphones for which factory-determined correction terms were available.