In the South African Medical Journal (April, 2010), Drs. De Wet Swanepoel and James W. Hall III reported pre- and post-event hearing thresholds for 22 ears from 11 young adults (average age 27 years). Each adult participant attended the South African premier soccer league match in October 2009. Each participant signed an informed consent form.

Twenty-one (21) of the 22 ears were included in their analysis (one ear was excluded due to a pre-existing perforation). All participants had pre-event hearing thresholds less than 20 dB HL. The average ongoing sound exposure level was 100.5 LAeq (dBA) during the event, and peak intensities averaged 140.4 dB(C). Significant deterioration (p=0.005) post-event was determined with regard to hearing thresholds at 2000 Hz. Post-event distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) amplitudes were also significantly reduced at 1266, 3163, and 5063 Hz (p=0.011, 0.019, 0.013, respectively). The authors concluded that stadium events (such as the one described above) present sound exposure levels that are dangerous and may cause temporary or permanent threshold shifts. They caution hearing protection devices (HPDs) should be considered in these situations.

Source: Swanepoel, DW, Hall JW III. (2010) Football match spectator sound exposure and effect on hearing: A pretest–post-test study. S Afr Med J 100:239-242.