Summer is coming to a close, and fall is rearing its head, which means it’s time for fall sports! Going to a Sioux City Musketeers hockey game or hosting a watch party for your favorite football team are fun and, let’s face it, noisy events.
During all your fall sports fun, it’s crucial to remember your hearing protection.
Why is Hearing Protection Important?
Any sound at or above 85 decibels (dB) can damage your hearing.[1] The louder the sound, the less time it takes to cause permanent damage. Sporting events are full of game-ending buzzers, announcements, screaming fans, whistles and post-watch party music, all of which contribute to your overall sound exposure. Over the course of a season, that’s a lot of cumulative noise to subject your ears to.
Finding ways to lower your noise exposure, even just a little, can protect your hearing in the long run.
Hearing Protection Tips
When you go to a game, bring a pair of earplugs to wear when the noise feels overwhelming. In addition to wearing earplugs during high-volume moments, you can also give your ears regular breaks. You likely won’t want to miss any second of the game, but taking some time away from the crowd at halftime, or going to a quiet room at a watch party, can be helpful.
In addition to during-game hearing protection, you should monitor how your ears feel following the game. Ringing in the ears, muffled voices or pain are all signs of potential hearing loss. A short-term threshold shift, in which your hearing capacity is temporarily reduced, is normal after exposure to loud noise. However, if your symptoms continue for more than a day or two following noise exposure, it’s a good idea to see a specialist for a hearing test.
At Ear, Nose & Throat Consultants, we can conduct a hearing test and provide you with additional tips on protecting your hearing going forward. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2026). Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21776-noise-induced-hearing-loss-nihl