The 2018 FIFA World Cup is
home to all sorts of extravagant sounds. As one
of the most high-profile events of the year, it
is bound to be enjoyed by millions all over the
globe.
Those with hearing impairments
don't need to feel left out either. Let us guide
you through how to make the world cup, and other
sporting events more accessible, as well as keep
your ears safe at one of the world's most
unmissable events.
Football's The Sound of the Summer
It will be tricky to escape
any mention of football between June 14, and
July 15, 2018. The 2018 world cup will be on the
TVs, radios, and mobiles around the clock during
the tournament, meaning its widely accessible.
Being held in Russia also means coverage occurs
at a number of prime times, allowing for maximum
viewing time.
For most of us, it's
easy-watching. Nail-biting it will be, full of
worldly goals from some of the planets greatest
and more notorious players. Oh, and the
atmospheres - they will be wild, charming, bold,
and above all, LOUD. From celebrations to
chants, vocal chords will be stretched and boy
will our eardrums become immersed in world cup
culture. Sadly, this can all have negative
implications to our hearing health and auditory
senses.
Top Tips For Enjoying the World Cup with Hearing
Loss
ust
because you may suffer from a hearing
impairment, it does not mean you cannot lose
yourself in world cup fever. There are a number
of ways that the 2018 world cup and other
sporting events offer hearing-friendly
alternatives to include those mild to moderate
impairments, as well as the deaf.
- Configure your hearing
aids for the appropriate environments -
Ensure you adjust your device accordingly.
If you are lucky enough to be heading to
Russia to see the games live, popping down
to the pub, or watching at home, make sure
you have the right settings and features
turned on.
- Stock up on
hearing aid batteries - The last thing
you will want is your device running out of
power mid-match, or even worse, when you are
out watching the games. Carry spare cells so
you can continue to enjoy should you be
caught short on power.
-
Wireless TV listeners
come in handy for the home - If you are
staying put or will watch some of the
fixtures at home, TV headphones can enhance
the experience. You'll be able to finetune
the volume for you, without adjusting it for
everyone else so all parties can enjoy the
television at the volume that suits them.
- Captions are forever your
friend - Subtitles will be crucial for those
with severe or profound hearing loss, as
well as for the deaf. If you cannot always
revel in the wild sounds of a sporting
atmosphere, at least you can still enjoy the
frantic commentary.
- Ear plugs will prevent
further damage -
Hearing protection is a vital bit of
kit, especially if attending football
matches or down at a packed pub. Chants,
celebrations, and long exposure to excessive
noise can lead to sensorineural hearing
loss, and tinnitus.
For the deaf, FIFA has made
the move to make the games more accessible. They
are producing match reports in International
Sign Language which can be viewed after the
match.
You can view them here.
Harmful Noises Will Damage Your Hearing
It is a scientific fact.
Exceptionally loud sounds are detrimental to our
ears. Dangerously loud noises can cause lasting
damage, and world cup atmospheres can be a key
culprit.
Many of the stadiums cater to
35,000-plus fans with the largest catering for
up 80,000. Now there's a potential for a lot of
noise! Whether you attend a football match,
enjoy matches at your pub, or even in the
comfort of your own home, these hazardous noises
are forever present.
How To Keep Your Ears Safe
GOAL, GOAL, GOAL! A scream we
will hear often. A lot of the noises will be
unavoidable, but that's football. Those with
normal hearing should still be wary...
As highlighted by the
Telegraph, sounds from the stadium excessive and
may result in the onset of noise-induced hearing
loss.
- Vuvuzela: 127dB
- Air horn: 123dB
- Drums: 122db
- Referee's whistle: 121db
- Chanting fans: 121db
- Wooden rattle: 102db
- Inflatable fan sticks:
99db
How can you avoid these
harmful sounds?
Ear plugs
are your answer.
World Cup 2010: Vuvuzelas & Hearing Loss
The vuvuzela became a
footballing fan must-have during the 2010
tournament. The vuvuzela was one of the
instruments of choice at South Africa's
competition but posed an immediate threat to the
hearing of both fans and players.
The trumpet-esque noise cannon
can emit sound up to 127db - that's enough to
cause permanent hearing loss! Constant exposure
to sounds above 85db is enough to cause lasting
damage to our ears.
Subsequently, they are not
allowed in the stadiums at the 2018 world cup.