March Madness Related Hearing Loss!
Roberta Singer
It happens every year at this time. Basketball enthusiasts across the country become united in a common cause: March Madness! The NCAA Division I Basketball Championship games this year include our home team, the Rhody Rams. All eyes will be on the top teams vying for #1. For some lucky people, the opportunity to see a live game is one that is no doubt exciting, but that excitement can come with a hidden danger: hearing loss.
Bigger arenas mean bigger sound; adding to the noise level are enormous high quality speaker systems. Some large arenas feature as many as 60 speakers aimed directly at the spectators for maximum amplification. Between the pep band, the buzzers, the announcers, the loud music and thousands of screaming fans including an enthusiastic student section, it all adds up to a potentially dangerous noise level.
Hearing protection for loud sporting events is crucial, especially for children, and the solution is simple. A simple pair of foam or polyurethane earplugs can easily be obtained from a drugstore for just a few dollars and are effective at blocking your ears from harmful noise. Be smart and protect your ears. You have only one pair.
Rhody Rhody Rhody! Rams Rams Rams! GO RHODY!