{"id":1751,"date":"2020-03-13T19:29:15","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T23:29:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/?p=1751"},"modified":"2020-03-23T13:58:44","modified_gmt":"2020-03-23T17:58:44","slug":"hearing-loss-in-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/hearing-loss-in-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Loss in Football"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With\nthe 2019 football season in our rearview mirrors, all we have left is the\nmemories of screaming for our home team with thousands of our closest friends.\nFor some, they will have something more permanent to remember the\nseason\u2014hearing loss. <\/p>\n\n\n

Dangers of a Football Stadium <\/h2>\n\n\n
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Football stadiums can get very loud, reaching decibels as high as 142.2<\/a>. This is almost as loud as a jet taking off if you were standing less than 28 yards away.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounds\nare measured in decibels (dB). Anything louder than 85 dB can cause\nirreversible damage to the small hairs within the inner ear. These hairs are\nresponsible for translating soundwaves into electric signals, which are then\npassed through the auditory nerve to the brain. Once damaged, that\u2019s it; the\nhairs cannot be fixed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2014 study of retired NFL players found that their profession put them at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus<\/a>. Researchers from Loyola University suspect it is partly due to head trauma players sustained while playing football. The continued exposure to stadium noise was also suspected to contribute to their hearing loss.<\/p>\n\n\n

Players Report Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n

Recently,\ntwo NFL players have come out about their own experience with hearing loss. Terry\nHanratty, an NFL quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Reed Doughty, a\nsafety for Washington, both struggle with hearing loss today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hanratty’s\naudiologist commented on his hearing loss<\/a> saying it, \u201ccould be due to noise exposure\nover time \u2026 but also could also be a result of a combined degeneration from\naging or perhaps nerve damage from the head trauma he experienced as a\nprofessional football player.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doughty\u2019s\nhearing loss is different, as he was diagnosed at the age of six. His nerve\ndenegation progressed and worsened over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having\nrealized their hearing loss was impacting their quality of life, they both\nfound treatment with hearing aids<\/a>. They now work to educate the public on the\ndangers of loud environments and untreated hearing loss. <\/p>\n\n\n

Protecting Your Hearing <\/h2>\n\n\n

The\nbest way to protect yourself while at a game is to wear hearing protection\neither purchased at a pharmacy or from an audiologist. Professional earplugs\nare made from a custom mold taken of your ear, which provides a superior fit\nand protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\nyou are watching the game at home, be mindful of how loud you are turning up\nthe television. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\nlearn more about protecting your hearing, contact the experts at Augusta ENT. <\/p>\n\n\n

Learn more about hearing loss<\/h3>\n\n\n