The NHL season has finally begun, and already, Vegas Golden Knights fans are considered the loudest, most enthusiastic fans out there! Getting swept up in that high-energy atmosphere can make anyone forget that all the cheering, goal horns, and chanting can be damaging to your hearing.
So, just how loud is a Vegas Golden Knights game? Well, that depends. The resting decibel (dB) level seems to be around 100 dB, and when a goal is made, the T-Mobile Arena can erupt to over 150 dB!
Why Loud Noise Damages Your Hearing
Okay, if you don’t know much about decibels, maybe that information doesn’t mean much to you right now. Decibels are measurements of the loudness of a sound. Below are some decibel measurements to help contextualize the loudness of various sounds.
- Regular breathing – 10 dB
- Refrigerator humming – 40 dB
- Washing machine – 70 dB
- Gas lawnmower – 80-85 dB
- Hockey games – 100 dB
- Emergency vehicle sirens – 120 dB
- Firearms – 140+ dB
As a sound goes up in decibels, the faster it can damage your hearing. Around 80-85 dB, you can start to damage your hearing, though it would take about two hours of exposure to decibels of that level. However, once you hit 100 dB and above, hearing loss can happen in a matter of minutes.
The louder the sound your auditory system has to process, the increased likelihood that it will damage the delicate hairs in your inner ear. These hair cells vibrate and transmit sound to the auditory nerve, which conveys the sound information to your brain. However, louder sounds impact the hair cells and can cause them to break. Once the inner ear hairs are broken, there is no way to repair them.
So, when you know that you will be doing something that will expose you to higher levels of decibels, our hearing health care specialists here at Hearing Associates of Las Vegas recommend that you wear hearing protection, especially at your next Vegas Golden Knights game!
Decibels At A Vegas Golden Knights Game
So, just how loud is a Vegas Golden Knights game? Pretty darn loud, according to all the information we could gather. Some of the decibel information we have concerning game time for the Golden Knights are:
- As our lead hearing health care specialist found during her time at a Golden Knight’s game, the resting volume of the stadium was 102 dB. At that noise level, hearing damage can happen over the course of one rousing game!
- The T-Mobile Arena, where the Golden Knights play, has a Model KPH-130C Arena/Stadium Electric Piston Horn for when a goal is scored. This horn is rated to put out over 147 dB.
- Vegas Golden Knights fans are already being acknowledged as some of the most enthusiastic fans, to the point where crowd cheering has been known to drown out even the goal horn! While the energy is exciting, that is a lot of very loud noise, as that goal horn is painfully loud.
How To Protect Your Hearing At The Next Golden Knights Game
As you can see, it can be pretty easy to damage your hearing at a Vegas Golden Knights game. But, that doesn’t mean you have to skip attending! Instead, here are some ways to protect your hearing at the next Golden Knights game you attend.
Use the right hearing protection – Simple foam earplugs are better than nothing when it comes to protecting your hearing. However, you have sound-transmitting bones in your face, so you may want to use more complete hearing protection such as earmuffs.
Give your ears a break – Hearing damage occurs over time, and being exposed to high decibels for the entire game can harm your hearing. To help your hearing out, go ahead and take breaks for your ears. But, be sure to time your breaks carefully! The ushers at the T-Mobile Arena are serious about not interrupting gameplay for other attendees with people walking in and out constantly. So, it is best that you go out in-between plays.
Leave young kids at home – While it can be a ton of fun to bring the kids to live sporting events, it may be best to leave younger children at home, especially if they aren’t good at wearing hearing protection. Children have more sensitive hearing than adults, and it can be very painful for them to be exposed to such loud volumes.
Adjust your hearing aid volume – If you already use hearing aids, you may want to go in with adjusted volume levels. Our hearing instrument specialists can help adjust your hearing aids for the game so that you aren’t overwhelmed by the sounds but still have enough volume to enjoy.
Come In For A Hearing Check Up At Hearing Associates Of Las Vegas
If you do end up going to a Vegas Golden Knights’ game this season, you may want to visit with our hearing health care specialists afterward. That way, you can get your hearing checked for any damage and receive personalized advice on what types of hearing protection are best for various events.
To have your hearing checked and receive personalized advice on how to care for your hearing, feel free to contact us today for an appointment with one of our hearing specialists. With our two convenient locations, you can easily get your hearing evaluated and your hearing concerns addressed.
info@hearingassociateslv.com
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