Watch Out for Dangerous Decibels in Exercise Classes

Watch Out for Dangerous Decibels in Exercise Classes

Exercise is beneficial to your hearing health, as well as your general health. Because certain types of hearing loss are linked to cardiovascular problems, regular exercise is beneficial in preventing these problems.

 

The right song provides you the power and motivation to keep pushing through the last few minutes of a workout, whether you’re in a group class or working out alone. However, new research suggests that music in fitness sessions may endanger your hearing. Learn more about the dangers of loud music at the gym and hearing loss caused by noise.

 

Gym music reaches new levels.

 

According to new research from George Mason University in Virginia, music played during spin classes at fitness clubs in the United States can reach 100 to 110 dB. To put things in perspective, the typical decibel level for a live rock show is 120 decibels — yet these are usually held in massive arenas! The level of harm increases dramatically in a small setting, such as a fitness classroom.

 

Sound is calculated in decibels, and the higher the decibel, the more permanent the damage. The safe decibel level is 85 dB, according to hearing professionals. Over an hour of exposure to sounds that exceed 85 dB can cause irreversible noise-induced hearing loss.

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the United States Department of Labor recommends a sound threshold of 85 decibels for no more than 45 minutes in fitness centers. There is also a link between the decibel level and the quantity of time spent exposed. When sound levels reach 88 dB, the amount of time safely exposed declines to 23 minutes. When noises reach a decibel level of 117, 1.7 seconds is an unhealthy amount of exposure.

 

Most individuals do not consider noise-induced hearing loss a side effect of working out in a gym. However, if you’re in a gym for an hour, you’re likely to be exposed to sounds that are significantly louder than 85 dB. Construction sites, airfield operators, and even rock singers come to mind. If you work as a gym instructor, you likely spend a lot more time at the gym and, as a result, are exposed to dangerously high levels of sound.

 

One of the types of hearing loss that can be avoided entirely is noise-induced hearing loss. Loud noise hurts your inner ear hair cells over time, and they do not renew. Noise-induced hearing loss, a type of sensorineural hearing loss, arises as a result of this.

 

How to avoid noise at the gym

 

What can we do to avoid hearing loss caused by noise? It all boils down to being proactive rather than reactive.

 

  • Choose your gym wisely: Before joining a gym, please test it out a few times to determine the noise level and ensure it is within acceptable limits.
  • Become an advocate for good hearing: If you believe the noise level is excessive, speak with the instructor, the head of exercise classes, and the gym manager.
  • Use protection: When you know that you’ll be exposed to loud noises, hearing professionals recommend bringing a set of earplugs with you. 
  • Keep a distance: If you’ve been exposed to loud sounds, get away from the source of the noise and rest your ears.

 

It’s also essential to take a look at your earphones if you use them.

 

Examine Your Earbuds

 

When we’re not in class, we can use headphones to keep us motivated on the treadmill. The usage of earbuds severely harms our hearing. Earbuds, placed in the ear canal near the eardrum, generate louder conditions than the level displayed on your gadgets. The sound intensity in your ears, paired with the location of the earphone and a high volume of sound, has been compared to that heard while drilling in a coal mine.

 

Download volume control applications for your phone or iPad to preserve your hearing. You can also come across ones that monitor decibels in the location you’re in, encouraging you to relocate to a less noisy setting.

 

Changes in hearing? Talk to us!

 

Contact Swift Audiology if you’ve noticed changes in your hearing. Our knowledgeable staff is available to assist you in achieving your hearing health goals!