CORRESPONDENCE

Noise and sports events

To the Editor: I read the recent article on sound exposure during football matches in the SAMJ with great interest.¹ Swanepoel et al. concluded that 'exposure levels exceeded limits of permissible average and peak sound'¹ and 'Public awareness and personal hearing protection should be prioritised as preventive measures'.¹ It is interesting that sound from sports competitions could be an important forgotten noise. Indeed, sport noise-induced deafness has been proposed for years.² The control of noise from competitions (e.g. control of audiovisual facilities) might be required; this would be more appropriate than having the spectators use protective devices.

Viroj Wiwanitkit
Bangkhae, Bangkok
Thailand
wviroj@yahoo.com

1. Swanepoel W, Hall JW. Football match spectator sound exposure and effect on hearing: A pretest-post-test study. S Afr Med J 2010; 100: 239-242.         [ Links ]

2. Bentley S. Noise-induced deafness. Br J Sports Med 1978; 12: 160.         [ Links ]