earphones and hearing concerns

[GrantMatt]

Hi all

I use earphones when erging (podcasts, motivational music, etc). However, to hear it comfortably over the noise of the erg and sometimes fan as well, I pretty much need it to be top volume. I row for 20 to 40 mins every 2nd day. Anyone else do the same and worried about eventual hearing loss!? Any workarounds besides the obvious of giving up the earphones.

[p_b82]

Do your earbuds have noise cancelling features/functions?

I listen to music, also loud enough to make sure I can't hear the external fan and erg too loudly, but I've bought a decent pair of wired earbuds that massively reduce external noise - which means I don't need to increase the volume of the music all that high above "normal".
I don't completely drown out external noise, but it's minimised

Is your max volume of your device at an EU max 85 dB limiter? - because typically the safe exposure time for 85dB is up to eight hours a day.

[hikeplusrow]

I do think you need to be careful with this. I don't listen to music while I'm erging, but often use earphones to listen to music on my smartphone. I never have the volume above 50%.

[winniewinser]

Hi all

I use earphones when erging (podcasts, motivational music, etc). However, to hear it comfortably over the noise of the erg and sometimes fan as well, I pretty much need it to be top volume. I row for 20 to 40 mins every 2nd day. Anyone else do the same and worried about eventual hearing loss!? Any workarounds besides the obvious of giving up the earphones.

I use Jaybird Vista1 or Bose QC earbuds and both block out enough erg noise to not need to have the ipad or music too loud. The Bose are noise cancelling too but not as good at staying in place as the Jaybirds.

I have constant tinnitus, especially in my left side, so actually having music on most of the day really helps to drown that out. Otherwise it's a constant whining which once you tune in to it can be very difficult to unhear.

I think my hearing loss in my left side it probably due to lots of loud music when I used to commute into London....but the damage it done now

[Dangerscouse]

I have always listened to music using earbuds when rowing, but I've never noticed any discernible difference in my hearing.

I guess that it could come down to your choice of headphones/ earbuds etc. I use a cheap pair of earbuds, following too long using good brands that failed all too quickly due to sweat, but I don't feel like I've got the volume on too high, although that is subjective.

A good test for me is that I've never had to increase the sound on the TV for the past 10 years. It's always stayed constant.

[Sakly]

I'm not very old, so probably the hearing loss didn't kick in so much yet, but I used to hear loud music often (not so much with earbuds) - measurement at hearing place is around 90-95dB, or even a bit more for short times, if I really like to have it going.
For daily music I use earbuds nearly all time I'm at work and also some time at home, if nobody is around. This is very moderate volume, so I assume this will not lead to any problem (hopefully ).
During my rowing I use loudspeakers, as earbuds don't feel good to me and I like sound of loudspeakers much more. Volume is loud as well, but probably not as much as 85-90dB (never measured in this room).

[gvcormac]

When I listen or have a call I use inexpensive full noise canceling headphones, which work. With noise canceling on, you can have a decent phone/zoom conversation. You hear (and transmit) a bit of chain whir, but no fan.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0B879C5DS

[ShortAndStout]

I have noise cancelling earbuds (bluetooth) that I got for like $25 on amazon, they cancel noise by physically blocking out sound with the silicone ear piece that goes into the ear canal. No issues hearing.

[Rowan McSheen]

I used to have the stereo on loud while erging but then the neighbours objected. Buds have never worked for me. I now use on-ear headphones, as opposed to the type of headphones that completely enclose the ears. They're just cheap bluetooth JVCs, cost about £20 as I recall. They block out enough erg noise to enable the music to be played at comfortable volume.

I have to listen to recordings for my job so my hearing is important to me.

[Cyclist2]

I have a moderate, bordering on severe, high frequency hearing loss due to gunfire and 20 years in Navy shipyards. I also have tinnitus that directly affects my hearing (not just background tones). I wear programmable hearing aids for daily use, and they have Bluetooth streaming capability, which really helps with phone calls and TV watching. I am very careful with my hearing - I carry earplugs in my pocket ALL THE TIME. Any noise I can control I do so (there is way too much uncontrollable noise with motorcycles, diesel pickups, sirens, etc.)

When I am erging, I take out the hearing aids and use active noise cancelling earbuds. My current model is the Soundcore Space A40. These are very effective at blocking the erg noise and the fan I use for sweat control. I stream music, but it is at a moderate volume since the outside noise is cancelled. If I'm doing short, sharp intervals, I just use earplugs; don't really need music when I'm concentrating that hard. But the bottom line is, I block out all the unwanted noise (not just erging) that I can.

Hearing loss is one of those things you don't really notice until it's so bad, you "all of a sudden" realize it when the TV is too loud for everyone else in the room or you're saying "what?" more often. Too late! Once gone, it's gone. Protect your hearing, we live in an incredibly noisy world. Soapbox speech done.

[jamesg]

Protect your hearing, we live in an incredibly noisy world. Soapbox speech done.

Well said. Luckily it's not always that bad: wax can also block sound, usually one side at a time.