Football season is starting! Whether you’re a die-hard NFL fan or going to your kids’ Little League game, you know that sporting events can be high-energy: announcements over the loudspeakers, cheering crowds and loud whistles. While fun, this can present significant challenges if you suffer from hearing loss. We’ve compiled tips below to help you navigate the arena, court or field, cheering on your favorite team.
Confirm Accommodations in Advance
Many sports stadiums and arenas offer accessibility services. Check the venue’s website or call customer service to familiarize yourself with what’s available. Some accommodations that might be available include:
- Loop systems
- Assistive listening devices
- Captioning services
- Designated seating areas
Plan Ahead
When buying your tickets, pay attention to where you’ll be sitting. Opt to sit far away from speakers or amplifiers to reduce exposure to loud noise. Also, before the event, invest in quality hearing protection, such as earplugs, earmuffs or noise-cancelling headphones.
You might also consider your arrival and departure times. Decreasing the time spent at the event decreases your exposure to loud noise, so think about arriving late or leaving early.
Communicating at the Event
Don’t shout over the noise! Doing so will strain your vocal cords and expose everyone around you to higher noise levels. This also leads by example: if you’re not shouting, people around you are less likely to shout back.
You may want to carry a card or note explaining your hearing loss and communication preferences. Show this note to the staff at the event and people around you to make conversations go smoothly.
Check out speech-to-text apps on your phone as well. These can help you follow conversations around you, especially when there’s a lot of background noise.
If you wear hearing aids, check out noise-cancelling or background noise suppression features to mitigate the amount of noise you’re taking in and make the conversations around you clearer.
Make an Appointment
After the event, if you’re experiencing muffled hearing or tinnitus, call a hearing health professional for a hearing test. They can determine what damage, if any, the event did to your ears. Call Sound Advice today to make an appointment.