{"id":3945,"date":"2022-05-20T14:29:13","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T18:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedent.com\/?p=3945"},"modified":"2022-05-20T14:29:16","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T18:29:16","slug":"how-can-i-protect-my-hearing-at-sporting-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedent.com\/how-can-i-protect-my-hearing-at-sporting-events\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Protect My Hearing at Sporting Events?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You never forget your first professional sports game: the excitement in the air, the smell of popcorn and, of course, the crowd’s roar. Did you know that attending a sporting event can actually damage your hearing if you’re not careful? We review how this happens and how you can keep your ears safe below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Loud Sounds Cause Damage?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Crowd<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Within the cochlea, which is part of the inner ear, are tiny hair cells called stereocilia. The stereocilia\u2019s job is to convert incoming soundwaves into electrical energy that travels via the auditory nerve to the brain to be interpreted as sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When dangerously loud sounds pass through the ears, it can damage or destroy the stereocilia. Once damaged, the cells do not regenerate, and permanent sensorineural hearing loss<\/a> is the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Loud Are Sporting Events?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The threshold that is considered unsafe for a day of listening is 85 dB \u2013 about the volume of passing highway traffic or a caf\u00e9 during the breakfast rush. The louder a sound is, the less time it takes to cause damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September of 2013, the Seattle Seahawks set the record for loudest stadium on record at a whopping 136.6 dB. The very next month, the Kansas City Chiefs topped them with a new record of 137.5 dB. This is loud enough to cause damage in as little as one to two minutes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Football isn\u2019t the only loud sport. According to a 2019 study<\/a>, the noise levels in baseball stadiums are high enough to cause hearing damage and\/or tinnitus later. Their survey found that most respondents reported they did not consider wearing earplugs, and one-third experienced hearing muffled speech after the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How You Can Protect Your Hearing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Below are some tips for protecting your hearing during sporting events at Prudential Center<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n