Is 70-80 dB of Constant Music Harmful?

[MuffinMan]

My gym keeps playing music at 70-80 dB according to an app.

I told their management to lower it (it became around ~60 dB after that), and so they did but I have to keep reminding them every time I go there. I work out only for 1 hour max, sometimes only 40-45 mins.

I wear ear plugs when I go.

Is it still a risky place?

 

[JohnAdams]

I think so. I also think we have no idea what the current state of our inner ear damage is and that we are definitely susceptible to further damage.

 

[GregCA]

My gym keeps playing music at 70-80 dB according to an app.

I told their management to lower it (it became around ~60 dB after that), and so they did but I have to keep reminding them every time I go there. I work out only for 1 hour max, sometimes only 40-45 mins.

I wear ear plugs when I go.

Is it still a risky place?

One hour of music at 70-80 dB while wearing ear plugs is not something I'd be worried about.

 

[Elfin]

I agree with @GregCA - you will be fine and are likely overthinking the issue

 

[Jack Straw]

My gym keeps playing music at 70-80 dB according to an app.

I told their management to lower it (it became around ~60 dB after that), and so they did but I have to keep reminding them every time I go there. I work out only for 1 hour max, sometimes only 40-45 mins.

I wear ear plugs when I go.

Is it still a risky place?

Music at 60 dB after you tell them to lower it + earplugs would get you prob around 50 dB and I'm under estimating, which is perfectly safe. Even if the gym was at 70 dB and you wore ear plugs it would also be safe.

 

[Striveon]

Is this dangerous without earplugs???

 

[Gabriel]

I think without earplugs it can be a bit risky. Because of the duration. But with earplugs, even if it doesn't lower as much as they say, should be fine, because then it would just be like a busy conversation.

But everyone's tinnitus is different.

 

[Ruse]

Is this dangerous without earplugs???

Thinking you need to protect against 70dB sounds is a slippery slope to phonophobia in my opinion.

Normal conversations and household appliances are circa 60-70dB.

You do not need to stick in your earplugs when having a conversation with someone.

 

[MattS]

My gym keeps playing music at 70-80 dB according to an app.

I told their management to lower it (it became around ~60 dB after that), and so they did but I have to keep reminding them every time I go there. I work out only for 1 hour max, sometimes only 40-45 mins.

I wear ear plugs when I go.

Is it still a risky place?

1. 70-80 dB music for one hour is probably okay. Some will say you must protect against this; some will say you're way over-protecting because 70-80 dB noise is life. Personally, I take more of an OSHA approach: both volume and length of exposure are important. So, the question is: is 1 hour of 70-80 dB noise potentially problematic. The answer I think is 'probably not'. That said, when I know I'm going to be exposed to a constant 80dbs for more than about an hour, I'll consider plugs.

2. The bigger issue at the gym is often the clanking of the metal weights. Personally I find that I absolutely MUST wear plugs at the gym, because that clanking just kills me. I know many others feel similarly. But if you aren't bothered by it, then it's probably not a concern.

 

[MattS]

One hour of music at 70-80 dB while wearing ear plugs is not something I'd be worried about.

Oh, goodness, you're asking if it's dangerous while wearing plugs??

The answer then has to be NO. In fact, like a couple others, I have to ask: if you are wearing plugs every time dbs hit 70, where aren't you wearing plugs??

The auditory system, like any other system in the body, requires input to be healthy. Remain in a dark room for a long time, and when you leave your eyes will be super-sensitive to light. Use crutches because of a sprained ankle, and the muscles in your foot will begin to atrophy. Same with your auditory system: if you don't give it sound, it will wither.

Yes, we have to be careful how much sound we expose ourselves to. But exposuring ourselves to none will cause big problems.

 

[Nicholas2255]

I've started wearing music ear plugs that sort of cut out the outside noise when I go to the gym but I just don't play any music at all. So I get the same effect as regular plugs but I won't have people looking at me funny. Like the others say, it's mostly the clanking of dropped weights that does my head in the most.
70db is really not as loud as you think. Anything above 80db is where I start getting nervous but 80db is significantly louder than 70db. Even going from 80db to 85db where hearing damage is supposed to occur is a very large jump in volume.

 

[Eric N]

Doing really bad, this condition is utterly insane.

 

[Earing]

High 70's to 80dB can be loud to me. I play electric guitar and have a sound meter. I notice 74dB and up can make my t more noticeable. I keep it between 60-70dB for home practice. Once vocals are thrown in (natural voice no mics) the overall dBs will jump from 83-90+ dB. Earplugs are a must for me.

 

[oceanofsound26]

I would worry more keeping your ear canals clean and dry while perspiring while lifting or exercising at the gym to avoid complications like ear infections and other potential medical problems. I have heard rumors of open-air noise canceling headphones in the past but have searches have turned up nothing. If you can find something like that with lower sound protection rating (10-20 dB) and but allows you ear canals to air out, I think that would be your best bet for hearing protection when working out a gym with loud music. If the gym will not turn the music down and you are worried, break up your workouts so they are shorter but more frequent to reduce length of exposure to unsafe noise levels each time, and on non-lifting days, do cardio, stretching, etc... outside, at home, or somewhere other than the gym.

 

[Michael B]

I'm just impressed that you're working out at the gym.