Is listening to your iPod at the gym making you deaf? I said, IS LISTENING TO YOUR IPOD AT THE GYM MAKING YOU DEAF?
Chances are it is, but a simple solution is at hand, according to new research from the University of Alberta.
Many people who listen to iPods while working out crank up the volume in order to tune out all the clanking and groaning. Doing so puts them at increased risk for hearing loss, says Bill Hodgetts, an assistant professor in the department of speech pathology and audiology.
"You want to listen to your music to pump you up, but in order to do that you've got to actually drown out the background noise," Dr. Hodgetts says.
The study, published in the International Journal of Audiology, looked at 24 people aged 18 to 30 who regularly exercise while listening to iPods.
Nearly half of them were found to listen at a volume and for a length of time that put them at risk for hearing loss. Study participants listened to music at an average of 92 decibels during their workouts, well above safe listening levels.
Fortunately, it is a problem with an easy fix, Dr. Hodgetts says: "Get yourself a better set of headphones."
The earbuds that come standard with iPods "allow too much background noise in. And so, if you get a set of headphones ... that just seal the ear canal, then you immediately cut out the background noise and you allow the vast majority of listeners to listen at a much safer level."
Most models that cover the ear completely should do the trick.
Did you hear that?