If you enjoy doing yoga down at Rockport Marine Park, running along a popular trail or going for a light swim, fear of hearing loss doesn’t need to stop you. Knowing how to protect your hearing and make accommodations for your hearing loss can make an outdoor workout even more fun and stress-free.
A couple of ways you can protect your hearing during outdoor exercise include:
- Turning down your music
- Being mindful of your hearing aids
- Wearing the right gear
Let’s look at each of these a little more closely.
Turn Down the Music
Listening to your favorite jams can help keep you entertained during your workout, but too high a volume can lead to permanent hearing damage. Approximately 17% of adults (26 million) have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive noise exposure. You don’t need to stop listening to your music altogether, but lowering the volume below 70 decibels can help prevent damage.
Be Mindful of Your Hearing Aids
Hearing aids are an incredible addition to your workout. By amplifying speech sounds and suppressing ambient background noise, you can stay safe during any outdoor workout. Knowing how to care for your hearing aids during exercise is essential.
You can protect your devices by keeping them out of extreme heat and away from water.
Excessive heat can not only negatively impact your health but also deteriorate the materials and technology of your devices. Monitor outdoor temperatures and consider not exercising outside if the temperature reaches dangerous levels.
While many hearing aids come with a water-resistant coating, none are completely waterproof. If you plan on swimming, kayaking or running through other water-heavy outdoor adventures, take out your hearing aids and store them in a protective case.
Wear the Right Gear
When you exercise, especially in the heat, a collection of sweat, dirt and water has the potential to enter the ear, increasing the likelihood that bacteria will be trapped in the ear canal and lead to an infection. Two items you might want to consider bringing with you on your next outdoor exercise include:
- Earplugs. Ear plugs are especially important while swimming. They can prevent excess water from being trapped in the ear canal and causing an infection known as swimmer’s ear.
- Sweatband. Sweatbands are an excellent option for keeping sweat, dirt, sunscreen and other liquids from dripping into the ear canal. If you prefer not to wear a sweatband, consider bringing a towel to dry your face and hair periodically.
Following these tips for protecting your hearing while exercising outdoors can help keep your ears healthy. For more information on hearing health, contact Gary D. Schwartzberg, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology today to make an appointment with one of our trusted specialists.