Ramma Lebogang, Petersen Lucretia, Singh Shajila
Division of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Old Main Building, F-45, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
Noise Health. 2011 Jan-Feb;13(50):71-5. doi: 10.4103/1463-1741.73995.
South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches are known worldwide as some of the noisiest recreational events. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to i) measure noise levels during different PSL matches; ii) measure changes in auditory function after attending PSL matches; and iii) determine the factors that increase the risk of overexposure to noise during PSL matches. The study used a descriptive quantitative analytical pre- and post-exposure design. Participants (n = 19, and n = 10) attended two PSL matches. Each participant's auditory function was assessed using distortion product oto-acoustic emissions (DPOAEs) before and after attending a PSL match. Peak and equivalent continuous noise levels as well as noise dose were measured during each match. Noise levels recorded during the poorly attended Match 1 were lesser than those of the well-attended Match 2. Participants attending Match 2 had statistically significant reduction in their DPOAE amplitudes after the match (P = 0.003) than those attending Match 1. Vuvuzela blowers and participants seated within 1 m from them were most at risk of harm to their hearing with significant reduction in DPOAE amplitudes post the match (P = 0.002 and P = 0.008, respectively). It was therefore concluded that noise levels at well-attended South African PSL matches pose a significant risk to spectators' auditory function as shown by reduced DPOAE amplitude post match attendance. Three risk factors for overexposure to noise during the match were identified: blowing the vuvuzela, close proximity to the individual blowing the vuvuzela as well as spectator turnout at the match.
南非超级足球联赛（PSL）的比赛在全球都被认为是最喧闹的娱乐活动之一。因此，本研究的目的是：i）测量不同PSL比赛期间的噪音水平；ii）测量观看PSL比赛后听觉功能的变化；iii）确定PSL比赛期间增加噪声过度暴露风险的因素。该研究采用了描述性定量分析的暴露前和暴露后设计。参与者（n = 19和n = 10）观看了两场PSL比赛。在观看每场PSL比赛前后，使用畸变产物耳声发射（DPOAE）评估每位参与者的听觉功能。在每场比赛期间测量峰值和等效连续噪声水平以及噪声剂量。观众较少的比赛1期间记录的噪声水平低于观众众多的比赛2。观看比赛2的参与者在比赛后其DPOAE振幅的降低在统计学上显著大于观看比赛1的参与者（P = 0.003）。呜呜祖拉吹奏者以及坐在距离他们1米以内的参与者听力受损的风险最大，比赛后DPOAE振幅显著降低（分别为P = 0.002和P = 0.008）。因此得出结论，如比赛后DPOAE振幅降低所示，观众众多的南非PSL比赛中的噪声水平对观众的听觉功能构成重大风险。确定了比赛期间噪声过度暴露的三个风险因素：吹奏呜呜祖拉、靠近吹奏呜呜祖拉的人以及比赛的观众人数。
