The role of music intensity in aerobics: implications for hearing conservation

Aerobics becomes an at-risk activity for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) when high intensity music is played in its classes. Attempts to reduce this risk through hearing conservation have generally failed, possibly because participants find the high intensity music enjoyable and motivating, and therefore not "too loud". To investigate this further, the median noise (music) intensifies in four high impact aerobics classes were fixed at 80, 85, 89 and 97 dB(A), rated as very low, low, at and high-risk for temporary threshold shift (TTS) and NIHL respectively, and participant (n=236) responses were measured via a post-class questionnaire. The results showed noise (music) intensity was related to perceived music loudness, enjoyment and motivation to work (p<0.001). Also, perceived music loudness, enjoyment and motivation to work were related to each other (p<0.001), but not to previous knowledge that exposure to loud sounds can permanently damage hearing (p>0.05). These results, and their implications on hearing conservation in aerobics, were discussed.