Tag Archive for: March Post 1

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NCAA Athletes With Hearing Loss

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Notables in Volleyball, Swimming, and Beyond

For many in the U.S., the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) means brackets, basketball, and American athletes. But it’s so much more.

Did you know at least 50 Canadians have participated in the last three NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships?

In 2023, Toronto’s Zach Edey was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus National Player of the Year, and Kingston, Ontario’s Aaliyah Edwards was named 2023 AP and USBWA Third Team All-American. Canadians have truly become staples in the athletes-to-watch NCAA basketball category.

But the NCAA is also about many divisions in many sports — with notable athletes with hearing loss throughout.

 

Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C., was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing in the world. It’s a member of NCAA Division III and competes in:

  • Men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, football, soccer, swimming, and track and field
  • Women’s basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, and track and field

Dawn Birley, who would go on to win several national Canadian Taekwondo championships, played volleyball, basketball, and softball for Gallaudet. And current phenom Christina Elsbury, of Uniontown, Ohio, plays women’s softball and — yep — men’s baseball.

 

Talia Little

After being wooed by and committing to NCAA Division I Boise State, gymnast Talia Little developed sudden sensorineural hearing loss. With no clue how it happened and knowing she would have it for life, she got back to work. With the help of inspiring coaches, she climbed her way back to high-level gymnastic ability. She’s established herself as a force to be reckoned with despite her hearing loss and, now, tinnitus.

 

Jeff Float

Olympic Gold medalist Jeff Float lost most of his hearing as an infant. He earned 10 gold medals and World Records in all 10 available events at the 1977 Deaflympics (then known as the World Games for the Deaf) in Bucharest, Romania. Float competed in swimming for the NCAA Division I school the University of Southern California in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

 

Taylor Vaneekeren

The University of West Florida, an NCAA Division II school, put together a Silent Set during a volleyball match against Valdosta State in September 2022. Until the UWF Argos reached eight points, it was asked that everyone — including the spectators — remain silent. The set was requested by UWF player Taylor Vaneekeren, who has worn hearing aids since second grade. She wanted to raise awareness of something that affects so many. Her coach was delighted to make it happen.

 

Tamika Catchings

Bringing it full circle, what list of NCAA players with hearing loss would be complete without living legend Tamika Catchings? Born with hearing loss, Catchings was already awash in awards and recognition in high school as a WBCA All-American. During her storied tenure with the NCAA Division I Tennessee Lady Volunteers from 1997 to 2001, she earned the Naismith College Player of the Year award, the AP Player of the Year award, the USBWA Women’s National Player of the Year award, and the WBCA Player of the Year award. She would go on to have a 15-year professional career with the Indiana Fever that included a staggering number of awards and recognitions.

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How Loud Is It?

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When Breaking Out the Power Tools, Protect Your Ears

Since childhood, you’ve probably heard the warnings about loud noises and hearing loss. Maybe you’ve even experienced the sensation of ear pain, ringing in the ears, a headache, or a moment of hearing difficulty after the piercing bang of a firecracker, a blast from an MP3 player on high volume, or an ice-crushing blender whirring at the fastest speed.

But how loud is too loud? As power tools get pulled out of storage for spring projects, let’s take a look at the level of noise they generate and what you can do. After all, hearing is one of the most important senses. Understanding the dangers of excess noise exposure — and how you can protect your ears — can go a long way toward preserving your hearing.

What’s the Problem?

It’s rather fascinating that sound can affect your health, but it’s also a fact. Your ears and brain work together to perceive and process sound. The cochlea, an organ within the inner ear, contains tiny hair cells that detect sound and send signals to the brain through the auditory nerve. Excess noise can damage the hair cells, leading to temporary or even permanent hearing loss.

Hearing loss not only might impact communication but can also:

  • Lead to withdrawal from social situations
  • Play a role in increased risk of balance issues and falls
  • Go hand in hand with dementia and other cognitive problems
  • Appear alongside tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears or head)

When Is It Too Loud?

As a measure of loudness, decibels play a critical role. Your own perception also matters, but sometimes unsafe volumes aren’t perceived to be as loud as they truly are. If you already have hearing loss, the sounds may not seem as loud but can still do damage. Generally, sounds that are 85 decibels or higher can be especially harmful. The louder the sound and the longer it lasts, the more dangerous it can be for your ears.

 
Consider these decibel estimates for some common power tools as well as other familiar sounds:

  • Whisper — 30 decibels
  • Typical conversations — 65 to 80 decibels
  • Lawnmowers — 80 to 100 decibels
  • Gas leaf blower — over 100 decibels
  • Sports games — 94 to 110 decibels
  • Hand drill — 98 decibels
  • Personal listening devices at highest volumes — 105 to 110 decibels
  • Chain saw — 110 decibels
  • Jet at takeoff — 140 decibels
  • Fireworks — 140 to 160 decibels

What Can You Do?

Power tools can be hard on the ears, making it all the more important to take control of your listening environment. Where to start? Look for equipment that’s rated for being quieter while still ticking all the performance boxes. With no power parts, reel mowers can do the job with a lot less noise, but electric, battery-operated, and even some quieter gas mowers might fit the bill, too.

Lowering the “volume” on your equipment can make a difference as well. You won’t find a volume knob, but a reduced speed setting — when appropriate for the job — might bring the noise level down. In addition, the user manual may provide options on limiting noise. And remember to take periodic breaks from using the equipment altogether, giving your ears a breather.

Steering clear of excess noise isn’t always possible, but hearing protection has your back. Earmolds with a variety of filter systems that help keep louder sounds at a safer, more reasonable level can help you tackle spring projects with confidence. The best part? They can be customized to the contours of your ear for an effective, snug, and comfortable fit.

Measuring Noise: Easy App

Did you know? The free NIOSH Sound Level Meter app, compatible with iOS-based mobile devices, can measure the sound level in your environment — at home, work, or play.

Using your phone or tablet’s built-in microphone, the easy-to-use app offers an instant decibel rating. It doesn’t replace professional instruments or expert opinion, but it can help approximate noise.

Check it out!

Count on us to help you seize the season. Have questions about noise-induced hearing loss or options for hearing protection? Reach out to our knowledgeable team today!

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Seven Famous Women With Hearing Loss

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Marlee Matlin

A celebrated actress who lost her hearing to a childhood illness, Matlin has been a vocal advocate for the deaf for over 30 years and is one of the most recognizable faces of hearing loss. She won an Academy Award at age 21 for her very first film role, making her both the youngest Best Actress winner and the only deaf person to receive the award.

Evelyn Glennie

Living with a hearing loss is challenging for anyone, but it can be especially frustrating for musicians. Dame Evelyn is a testament to the power of determination. Profoundly deaf since the age of 12, this brilliant percussionist went on to win not just one but two Grammy awards and has received 15 honorary doctorates from various universities. Her 2003 TED Talk, “How to Truly Listen,” describes her unique approach to “hearing” sounds with her entire body.

Gertrude Ederle

Being the first woman to swim across the English Channel is an incredible feat. Ederle never even considered letting hearing loss slow her down. In 1926, after a swim that clocked at 14 hours and 34 minutes, she emerged from the water at Kingsdown, England, having broken the record set by the last man to swim the channel. Ederle was crowned “Queen of the Waves” and went on to be featured in both the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Regina Olson Hughes

As the first deaf artist to have a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., Hughes’ achievements echo through the halls of natural science. After graduating from the only postdoctoral program available to deaf students in 1920, she became a botanical illustrator for the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Agricultural Research Service. Additionally, Hughes retained her speaking skills and was fluent in four languages. Two plants are named after her: Billbergia reginae, a type of bromeliad, and Hughesia reginae, a Peruvian flower similar to a daisy.

Jodie Foster

Ordinarily a very private person, this Academy Award-winning actress has been spotted wearing a hearing aid on the red carpet and suffers from bouts of vertigo, which is a condition that often accompanies hearing loss. Foster is one of the most famous and decorated actresses alive, with multiple awards to her name, including the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award. She is also a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights.

Millie Bobby Brown

One of the most recognizable stars of the hit series Stranger Things, Brown is already making headlines as the youngest person to ever be nominated for an Emmy award. She is completely deaf in one ear and is quickly becoming a positive role model for deaf youth around the world, saying of her recent entry into music: “I just started to sing, and if I sound bad, I don’t care, because I’m just doing what I love. You don’t have to be good at singing. You don’t have to be good at dancing or acting. If you like to do it, if you genuinely enjoy doing it, then do it.” With a can-do attitude like that, the sky is the limit!

Helen Keller

Helen Keller, who was blind and deaf, stunned the world by learning how to read, write, and speak. She is arguably the most famous and recognized deaf person in history. After mastering the use of language, she became a prolific scholar and author, attended Radcliffe College at Harvard University, published two dozen books, and joined the fight for women’s suffrage. Keller traveled the world as a public speaker passionate about the rights of the disabled. In 1964, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom – one of the highest honors in the United States. Her life and work are towering examples of the power of human perseverance and what is possible when a woman fully believes in herself and refuses to give up.

Living with hearing loss takes courage, determination, and a commitment to self-care. Hearing technology can help you rise to the challenge. Call now to schedule a hearing exam or a clean and check of your hearing aids today!

Ready to take the next step towards better hearing?
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