It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cleveland Browns, or the Detroit Lions – excitement over the Super Bowl is universal. As you get ready to watch the game, it’s worth taking a moment to think about your hearing health.
NFL player Derrick Coleman of the Arizona Cardinals certainly will be. He is one of a select group of football players who have a hearing loss. Former NFL players Flozell Adams, of the Dallas Cowboys, and Reed Doughty, of the Washington Redskins, are also part of this unique club of pro-athletes with hearing conditions.
Managing their hearing health is part of their daily lives and for Coleman and Doughty, hearing aids have proven invaluable in helping them live fuller lives by improving their hearing ability. For these star players, hearing loss came at an early age, but damage to your hearing can happen at any time. In fact, many of the 48 million Americans living with a hearing loss started noticing symptoms in adulthood and old age. One of the biggest causes of hearing loss is noise.
And the crowds go wild
If you’ve ever been to a football game, let alone the Super Bowl, you’ll know just how loud it can get. The players on the field aren’t the only ones getting an earful. At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, noise levels at a game reached a staggering 142 decibels – anything over 85 decibels is enough to damage your hearing. You might wake up the next day with a ringing in your ears or temporary hearing loss, but the effects can sometimes be permanent.
Take steps to protect your hearing
You can still enjoy watching the game live by taking along some earplugs to protect your ears. If you’re throwing a Super Bowl party, you can protect the hearing of your guests and yourself, by turning the volume on the TV down. With the volume on low, you’ll be less likely to have to deal with shouts and hollers as everyone’s attention is focused on listening to the game.
But what if you already have a hearing loss?
All of the advice we’ve mentioned so far applies to both those with and without a hearing loss. Anything you can do to protect your hearing health will ensure you can hear better for longer. If you already have lost some of your ability to hear, it may be that hearing aids are the answer.
For Derrick Coleman, hearing aids have been a part of his life since he was a child, but as an adult you may be hesitant to use hearing aids. You’re not alone. Reed Doughty was only finally convinced to give hearing aids a try after he was drafted to the Redskins and now, like Coleman, is a big proponent of the life-changing power of hearing aids.
At Beltone Hearing, our professional hearing instrument specialists can help you find hearing aids that work for your budget and lifestyle. Beltone hearing aids are discreet, comfortable, and most importantly, better than ever at restoring your hearing ability.
To get the help you deserve to keep your hearing healthy, book a hearing assessment in Michigan or Ohio at any one of our 39 offices. Click here to find the one nearest you.
