Sports like boxing, football, basketball, rugby, baseball, etc. are tremendous fun for both players and viewers, however, in most situations, the participants are unaware of the health consequences of their conduct.
Medical authorities have determined that the chance of acquiring hearing loss due to head injury may potentially be greater.
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Hearing Loss Caused by Contact Sports
Athletes must understand what they are putting themselves into and how they can best prevent hearing loss. Concussions are widespread in contact sports such as football, hockey, boxing, and martial arts, but how does this relate to the ear?
The trauma that can produce a concussion can also injure the inner ear or even portions of the brain involved in recording and identifying sound.
Another prevalent ailment, particularly in boxing and wrestling, is cauliflower ear, which is a cosmetic issue caused by repeated damage to the head and ear that is not addressed in a timely manner. This is not only aesthetic, but it may have a significant influence on hearing as well.
Trauma to the head can damage the nerves that carry sound messages from the inner ear to the brain. Similarly, a blow can harm the cochlea, which serves as a sound transmitter.
Aside from causing immediate hearing loss, brain trauma can also cause consequences such as cerebral contusions, meningitis, facial paralysis, and vertigo. These disorders are related to the loss of vital biological functioning.
Neurosurgeons advise players to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of head injuries that result in hearing loss:
- Testing and materials-approved personal protective equipment.
- Fitting head gears.
- Players should develop their neck and head muscles throughout training.
Hearing Loss Caused by Sports: Symptoms
A variety of symptoms, including tinnitus (a persistent ringing, roaring, or clicking sound) can interfere with daily life. Concussions, which damage the brain and can lead to hearing loss, are another issue, same with meningitis.
When it comes to water sports including swimming or diving, there’s the obvious concern for the swimmer’s ear, but what about barotrauma, a disorder involving pressure shifts that are most commonly observed in divers whose bodies don’t adjust with ocean depth?
If you believe that you have some type of hearing loss, you should seek medical attention. Some of the signs that might assist you in identifying a hearing loss are as follows:
- When individuals are conversing, it is difficult to grasp some words.
- Requesting that individuals repeat what they say Turning up the volume on your music player
- Talking too loudly
- In your ear, there is a ringing sound.
- Loss of equilibrium
- Your ears are discharged.
- Extreme discomfort
Effects of Hearing Loss on Quality of Life
Most persons who suffer from hearing loss live a stressful life. Due to a hearing impairment, they may lose their careers or have difficulty socializing.
Hearing loss can have a variety of consequences for athletes. Among them are the following:
- Depression and stress: Coping with hearing loss may be difficult. The athlete may experience stress as a result of the usage of hearing aids, difficulty to connect with friends, and decreased athletic performance.
- Decreased alertness: Hearing is very important in life. Hearing allows us to recognize noises that aid in decision-making. As a result, hearing loss raises hazards to a person’s safety.
- Reduced athletic performance: When playing a match, communication is essential. When a hearing loss becomes obvious, the affected athlete may find it difficult to collaborate with other players.
Managing Hearing Loss
Hearing aids are the most popular technology used by people with moderate hearing loss. Hearing aids can be worn inside or outside the ear. Hearing loss can be addressed in addition to using hearing aids by using Cochlear implants and brain stem implants.
Early therapy will aid in the reduction of communication, distress, and isolation difficulties. Following treatment, you will be needed to limit your exposure to loud noises in your surroundings.
Despite the need for medical aid, finding a trustworthy and high-quality audiology service provider can be difficult, and because of that, we at Johnson Law Offices want to help you and make that process as easy as possible.
The Hearing Loss Workers Compensation Program
The hearing loss workers’ compensation program is available to compensate employees whose hearing has been impaired as a result of noisy work employment.
Workplace noise need not “cause” hearing loss. It only needs to contribute to the loss. Exposure to “noisy employment” for just 90 days may result in a compensable loss.
Always feel free to ask Johnson Law Offices about the process, the law, or an individual case. The legal, medical, and audio-metric questions that come into play in a hearing loss workers’ compensation claim can be complicated.
The claims require attention to detail mixed with an ability to work well with hearing-impaired retirees and their families, especially spouses, and their hearing health care professionals.
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If you, or anyone you know, worked in noise and suffers from hearing loss, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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