Athletes and Hearing Loss

What comes to mind when you think of noisy professions? Your first thought is probably of construction workers, law enforcement officers, or musicians. Did you know that athletes also have a high risk of losing their hearing on the job? Athletes face noisy stadiums and repeated injuries that increase their risk of hearing loss.

Head Injury and Hearing Loss

Many athletes get injured on the job. They play with everything they have, and it’s not uncommon for athletes to get hurt. Most NFL players have suffered at least one concussion, and many have had more than one head injury. This can often lead to damage of the ear canal or the middle ear, and increase the risk of hearing loss.

Crowded Stadiums

Another threat to athletes’ health is crowded stadiums. Athletes love to play for fans, and a packed stadium can change the outcome of a game. However, a crowded stadium is extremely noisy, and cheering fans, stomping feet, and high energy music adds to the din. These dangerously loud sounds can affect players ears, as they play game after game in front of fans.

An Athlete with Hearing Loss

Former NFL quarterback Terry Hanratty is an athlete with hearing loss. He’s just one of many athletes who experienced hearing loss. His wife was the first to notice his hearing loss, and point out that he was turning up the volume on the TV more and more each week. Hanratty started to struggle with tinnitus, and hearing loss began to affect his everyday life. When his hearing worsened, Hanratty had a hearing test, and discovered he had hearing loss from exposure to loud sounds as well as from some of the injuries he’s sustained as an athlete.

Breaking the Stigma of Hearing Loss

Hanratty is wearing hearing aids to help him hear, and is encouraging other athletes to test their hearing. He’s also breaking down the stigma of hearing loss. This stigma is that many people still believe only seniors can experience hearing loss, and are reluctant to treat their hearing loss. In reality, people of all ages can lose their hearing, and Hanratty is an example of someone willing to break that misconception.

He wants fans and fellow athletes to learn more about hearing loss, test their hearing, and treat hearing loss to help them hear clearly. He’s not embarrassed to wear hearing aids, and you don’t need to be either. As more players come forward and talk about their hearing loss, the NFL has added hearing screenings to monitor players hearing health more closely.

Are Sports Fans at Risk of Hearing Loss?

Athletes aren’t the only ones in the stadium risking their hearing health. Fans are right in the midst of the noise, and sounds can be so loud that even a few minutes can lead to permanent hearing loss. Have you ever left a game with a ringing in your ears, or feeling like the sounds around you were muffled? That tinnitus or temporary hearing loss was a warning that it was too loud for your ears, and you could be damaging your hearing. The excitement of a stadium full of crowds may be your favorite feeling in the world, but make sure you’re not putting your hearing at risk.

Protect Your Hearing

As the music amps up and fans start screaming, the stadium gets extremely loud. You can still enjoy a live game, but don’t jeopardize your hearing health! Wear earplugs during the game. Download a decibel reader app on your phone to find out exactly how loud the stadium really is, and protect your hearing whenever sounds are louder than 85 decibels. If you don’t have a decibel reader, that’s ok. Are you yelling to talk to your friend next to you? It’s far too loud, and you need to protect your hearing right away.

Whether you choose to use foam earplugs, earmuffs, or custom-made digital hearing protection, make sure you take steps to prevent hearing loss. Protect your hearing at the next football game, offer extra earplugs to your friends, and find out more about athletes who have hearing loss and want to make sure everyone is doing the right thing for their hearing health.