The Sound of the Game: Navigating Hearing Loss at Baseball Stadiums

While the sights and sounds of a baseball game create an exhilarating atmosphere, it’s important to recognize that the noise levels in stadiums can pose a potential risk to your hearing health.

The Risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) at Baseball Stadiums

Baseball stadiums are filled with enthusiastic spectators. The intense atmosphere that is created by the raucous applause, claps, and chants take the game to a whole new level. Many people may not understand, nevertheless, that this atmosphere might come at a high price: our hearing.

Numerous times, the noise levels produced by tens of thousands of ecstatic spectators, along with loud music, announcements, and even pyrotechnics, surpass the safe thresholds advised by specialists.

NIHL occurs when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear are damaged due to prolonged or intense noise exposure. Over time, this damage accumulates and results in permanent hearing loss, making it crucial to be mindful of noise levels during your visit to a baseball stadium.

Both players and supporters are impacted negatively by the NIHL. Regular gamegoers are more likely to experience permanent hearing loss, especially if they don’t wear proper protection. Baseball games are among the noisy athletic events, and research in the “Journal of the American Academy of Audiology” indicated that individuals who frequently attend them have greater thresholds for hearing loss than those who don’t.

Ear damage from loud noise – Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

Baseball Stadiums Can Damage Hearing: Korean Study

A Korean study examined baseball fans’ attitudes toward the impact of recreational noise exposure on their hearing as well as the noise levels in a baseball stadium.

The investigation took measurements of the stadium’s noise level. The results of 16 measurements, which produced 91.7 dBA, revealed a notably high noise level in the busy areas. Except for the outfield portion, low-frequency noise levels were noticeably higher between 50 Hz and 1 kHz, however, the levels quickly dropped below 1 kHz.

Researchers discovered that baseball stadium noise levels are too loud to prevent hearing loss and tinnitus. It is generally advised to keep noise levels around 85 dBA for extended periods of time. A hearing loss brought on by noise exposure is possible.

This study serves as a call to action for a peaceful union of baseball’s thrilling energy and the preservation of auditory health. The threat of NIHL at baseball stadiums can be successfully reduced by raising awareness, putting preventative measures in place, and working with other stakeholders.

What Jobs in a Baseball Stadium May Have a Risk of Hearing Damage?

Workers who are directly involved in the setup, maintenance, and execution of events in baseball stadiums may be particularly susceptible to hearing damage. Here are some roles within a baseball stadium where workers could be at risk:

• Sound and Lighting Technicians: These professionals work with amplifiers, loudspeakers, and other equipment that can generate intense noise levels. Adjusting and testing sound and lighting systems in a stadium environment could expose them to potentially harmful noise.
• Event Organizers and Announcers: Individuals responsible for coordinating and announcing events may be in close proximity to loudspeakers and microphones, exposing them to high levels of noise.
• Camera Operators: People capturing live action on the field or tracking events within the stadium may be situated in areas with noisy equipment and enthusiastic crowds.
• Security and Crowd Control Personnel: These workers are often close to the crowd and may be exposed to loud cheers, chants, and other noises from fans.
• Stage Crew and Performers: Those responsible for setting up stages for musical performances or entertainment may be exposed to the amplified sounds of live music, which can contribute to noise exposure.

Baseball stadiums must put their employees’ auditory health first because of the possible dangers that come with these jobs. In order to preserve the health of individuals who participate in the exciting game-day experience, it is important to provide proper hearing protection, establish noise level rules, and promote awareness of the value of preserving one’s hearing.

Hearing Loss Among Professional Musicians

How to Protect Your Hearing at Baseball Stadiums

While the noise and excitement of sports stadiums add to the enjoyment of the game, they also pose serious threats to your hearing health. Fan chants, booming announcements, loud music, and even celebratory pyrotechnics can quickly surpass acceptable noise levels.

To put it into perspective, peak noise levels at stadiums can exceed 100 decibels (dB), which is far louder than the 85 dB limit that doctors advise for sustained exposure.

1. Invest in Hearing Protection

When entering a sports arena, bring some earplugs or noise-canceling earmuffs. The damaging effects of loud noise on your hearing can be greatly diminished by using these simple but efficient methods. It is simple to get disposable earplugs, which may be discretely worn without affecting how much fun you have while playing.

2. Decrease Exposure Time

Long-term loud noise exposure raises the risk of NIHL. To give your hearing a chance to rest and heal, think about taking brief pauses away from the noisy environments. This is crucial for stadium employees, athletes, and anyone who does loud jobs during the game.

3. Keep a Safe Distance

Place yourself far from loudspeakers or amplifiers or other sources of noise. You may lessen your total noise exposure while still being able to enjoy the excitement of the game by finding a seat further away from these sources.

4. Utilize Devices and Apps

There are several wearable tech items and smartphone applications that can monitor ambient noise levels and notify you when it becomes too loud. These devices might act as a reminder to take essential safety precautions or choose a more tranquil location.

Suffered a Hearing Loss While Working? Contact Us!

The Workers Compensation Program was established in 1911 to encourage employers to make the workplace safer by requiring safety programs and the use of safety devices.

Since 1911, there have been over 2.5 million workers’ compensation claims filed. Hearing loss workers’ compensation claims now rank #3 in the number of occupational disease claims filed.

Hearing loss workers’ compensation benefits are largely undiscovered benefits covering hearing health care, which is often uninsured. Many health insurance policies and programs like Medicare do not cover hearing aid purchases but workers’ compensation can.

It also pays for the disability of hearing loss just as it does for the loss of eyesight or other injuries.

Aging populations, advances in technology, and greater sensitivity to hearing loss are bringing more attention to financing hearing health care. For the most part, those who qualify for hearing loss workers’ compensation benefits are retired hearing-impaired workers who live on fixed incomes.

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.

Sources

1. https://www.hear-it.org/baseball-stadiums-are-noisy-and-can-harm-hearing
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov