Thursday, July 23, 2009

Are Vuvuzelas damaging to your hearing?

I simply had to add this insert for the fans. It is an extract from an article on www.iol.co.za. I know a few people who may definitely agree to the contents. But we could write off all the frequent visits to ear nose and throat specialist and the increase in headache medication and hearing aids as one of the many economic benefits of 2010.
Personally I find that noise levels do tend to escalate in all walks of life. I am waiting to find an article of the damaging effect on hand driers, particularly those that blast you away at the Johannesburg international airport.

Here is the article:
“A debate is raging over whether braying vuvuzela plastic horns that have taken over South African soccer damage the hearing of spectators.Football authorities have dismissed as "pure speculation" claims that the noise may permanently damage hearing. They say there is no scientific evidence to prove this.But Sean Kierman, head of brass studies at the University of Cape Town's College of Music, said vuvuzelas were "dangerous" and might damage the hearing of those nearby, either permanently or temporarily. He proposed mutes be inserted in them to reduce the noise.The brightly coloured vuvuzelas blown by football fans in the stands have been described as South Africa's unique sporting icon but have angered many and have been labeled as "torture, raucous and highly offensive to the ear".

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