Coaches are the hidden heroes of the fitness industry – they inspire and mentor people toward their health objectives. But there’s a battle that frequently goes unrecognized – the battle with a potential hearing loss.
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Fitness Professionals and Hearing Loss
Picture yourself in the middle of a strenuous exercise, music blasting from the speakers and the sound of weights clanging echoing through the air. Although the atmosphere is ideal for pushing oneself to the edge, there is a hidden risk that must be avoided. According to the World Health Organization, prolonged exposure to noise levels of more than 85 dB can cause irreparable hearing impairment.
Noise level of an ordinary gym is around 90 dB, which is the same as the sound of a motorcycle.
The risk of hearing damage is increased for fitness professionals who work in this atmosphere for extended periods of time. They put their auditory health at risk by being at the gym all the time, teaching courses, doing personal training, and other activities that expose them to high decibel levels.
Hearing loss symptoms might be mild at first, sometimes passing unrecognized until they become more noticeable. Fitness professionals may start to feel tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, or find it difficult to hear what is being said over the din of noise. Even a feeling of diminished hearing may be a sign of possible auditory system injury.
Causes of Hearing Loss Among Fitness Professionals
- Amplified Music: The majority of fitness centers turn up the music to get people moving. Trainers and teachers may develop noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) as a result of continuous loud music exposure.
- Equipment Noise: The noise level in gyms is primarily caused by the clatter of weights, the whir of cardio machines, and the buzz of electronic devices.
- Verbal Instruction: Fitness instructors frequently have to raise their voices to be heard above background noise, which strains their vocal cords further and raises the possibility of hearing impairment.
Causes of Hearing Loss Among Fitness Professionals: Amplified Music
Loud music and exercise have been linked to an increased risk of hearing loss.
About thirty out of one hundred aerobics teachers report that they have tinnitus (ear ringing) about fifty percent of the time. [SRC – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8073416/]
A loudness of more than 90 dB is regarded as exceptionally loud, and there’s a chance that the music in your gym’s aerobics sessions ranges from 60 dB (like a dishwasher or dryer) to 90 or 100 dB (like a passing motorcycle, a subway, or a hand drill).
If noise levels are higher than 90 dB, the International Association of Fitness Professionals advises that you should be given earplugs or other hearing protection equipment.
The following data can be used to estimate your chance of developing hearing loss after a 60-minute aerobics class:
- High-risk = 97 dB
- At-risk = 89 dB
- Low-risk = 85 dB
- Very low-risk = 80 dB
To reduce the risk of hearing loss, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) advises against exceeding the following loudness for longer than the indicated amount of time:
- 106 dB: 3.75 minutes
- 103 dB: 7.5 minutes
- 100 dB: 15 minutes
- 97 dB: 30 minutes
- 94 dB: 1 hour
- 91 dB: 2 hours
- 88 dB: 4 hours
- 85 dB: 8 hours
Hearing Loss Among Fitness Professionals: Impacts on Daily Life
Fitness experts must communicate well to help their customers reach their fitness objectives, but, hearing loss can make this important part of their employment more difficult.
Ineffective counsel delivery may result from a failure to comprehend clients’ wants and comments, which might aggravate both sides. Furthermore, instructors mainly rely on verbal signals and directions in group training situations like classes or boot camps. Participants’ workout experiences might be negatively impacted by their inability to communicate adequately due to hearing impairment.
A fitness professional’s personal life might be affected by hearing loss in several ways outside of work-related contacts. It might become difficult to have interactions with friends, family, and coworkers, which can cause feelings of alienation or separation. A person’s inability to hear and completely participate in discussions or to fully experience the subtleties of music and sound may also make extracurricular activities like attending social gatherings or live events less appealing.
The main impact of hearing loss on a trainer’s personal life:
- Communication Issues: Hearing loss can make it difficult for clients and trainers to communicate clearly, which can cause miscommunication and ruin training sessions.
- Safety Concerns: When exercising, fitness professionals and their customers may be in danger if they are unable to hear important sounds, such as cues or warnings.
- Impact on Mental Health: For fitness professionals, difficulty hearing and speaking in a noisy setting can lead to stress, worry, and feelings of loneliness.
Hearing Loss Among Fitness Professionals: Preventive Measures
The fitness sector needs to put its workers’ auditory health first by educating people about the dangers of extended exposure to loud surroundings. The implementation of industry-wide noise control regulations and the provision of resources for education and hearing protection should be the main objectives of advocacy campaigns.
Fitness workers frequently experience hearing loss, which is an occupational hazard that is frequently disregarded. The industry must take a proactive approach to addressing this issue since they are representatives of health and wellness. Fitness professionals may maintain their hearing and prosper in their positions for years to come by putting preventive measures into place, spreading awareness, and advocating for auditory health. Let’s raise awareness of auditory health in the fitness industry and turn down the volume on hearing loss.
How to prevent hearing loss?
- Noise Monitoring: To maintain a safe working environment for fitness professionals, fitness facilities should put in place programs to monitor and control the noise levels within their buildings.
- Protective Gear: Promoting the use of noise-canceling headphones or earplugs can help lessen the damaging effects of loud noises on hearing health.
- Vocal Care: When teaching in noisy environments, fitness professionals can lessen the strain on their vocal cords by using voice training techniques and vocal warm-ups.
- Frequent Auditory Check-ups: Early detection of hearing loss symptoms can be achieved with routine hearing tests, allowing for timely treatment and intervention.
Sources
https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-does-exercise-affect-hearing-loss
https://www.researchgate.net/publication
https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52610-Could-your-exercise-program-be-causing-hearing-loss