Sports — recreational, collegiate, or professional has one thing in common. Ready for the profoundly philosophical answer? Sports, no matter the venue, are competitive. While the competition in games is perhaps what has drawn our interest since the beginning of civilization, a new kind of competition involving the spectators and not the athletes is finally bringing the attention of health agencies.
The Arrowhead Stadium is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records to have hosted the loudest crowd roar on September 29, 2014. The “roar” listed at 142.2 dBA was the act that reclaimed the record from another sports stadium out on the western coast of the United States. If you have been to any sporting event at an indoor arena, you perhaps even participated in the jumbotron inspired bouts of “getting loud.” One might as well be standing under a jet plane as it takes off or be on board an aircraft carrier as fighter jets take off or land. There is one crucial difference though. On the aircraft carrier or the tarmac of an airfield, you would be encouraged and required to wear the heaviest duty hearing protection you could get your hands on.
The sight of an arena or stadium full of fans with earmuffs on would perhaps be a little unrealistic. Not to mention all the miscommunication when discussing the referee’s bad calls with your neighbor. Professional organizations and individual professionals have been trying to increase awareness of the possible ill effects of these noisy entertainment venues for a while.
Here is the good news — the CDC is getting into the act. The CDC National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) has procured one-page advertisements in official printed sports programs for the National Hockey League (NHL), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). This critical effort in public awareness will include a link to their online quiz about noise exposure and hearing health. Thank you, CDC.
Learn more on how “Loud Noise Can Cause Hearing Loss.”
Related Posts
The Utilization of Telehealth Services
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Academy of Audiology (2020) provided audiologists with guidance regarding the use of telehealth services. In October 2021, the Academy released a position statement titled The Use of Telehealth for the Delivery of Audiological Services. Members can access this statement here. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have expanded telehealth services,…
Postural Sway Observations in Children with ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects approximately five percent of the pediatric population. Up to 50 percent of children with ADHD also exhibit motor control and balance issues in addition to the more commonly seen symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Fidgeting, poor motor planning, increased postural sway, and difficulty sitting still may be related…
Deaths from Unintentional Falls in Older Adults
At the end of September 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data overviewing rates of death resulting from unintentional falls between the years of 1999–2020 by adults 65 years and older (Garnett et al, 2022). The report showed that death rates have increased, with the largest increase seen by those aged…
