Leicester Tigers blow Deafness Research UK’s trumpet!

Sept. 18, 2010 - PRLog -- Deafness Research UK’s ongoing campaign to slap a ban on the use of the dreaded Vuvuzela in sports grounds has received support from many quarters. Ipswich town were the first football club to take action and they have now been joined by a host of other clubs, most recently Leicester Tigers, (the current champions of the Guinness Premiership), who responded to the latest calls from the charity for the UK to follow the example of UEFA in banning the tuneless trumpets.

The charity has been striving throughout the summer to warn sports fans they risk permanent noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), thanks to the constant use of Vuvuzelas and while several clubs and organisations like UEFA have already banned these horns, pressure is mounting on others to follow suit, or risk warnings literally falling on deaf ears.

Charles Rayner, head of stadium operations at Leicester Tigers said, “Please be assured that Vuvuzela’s are not allowed in our ground and we fully support your campaign.”

These terrible trumpets can emit sound anywhere between 127 and 130 decibels (louder than a jumbo jet taking off) and are routinely ‘tooted’ within a few feet of people’s ears. While it is fantastic news to see the most successful English rugby clubs taking such a stance, worryingly, many high profile football clubs still have no current plans to enforce a ban.

Vivienne Michael, Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK, said:  “We welcome the support from the Leicester Tigers and indeed from all the clubs who have banned these dreadful deafness inducing devices. Many people attending matches with these instruments will be unaware of the real risks they are taking with their hearing. We can only hope other clubs come to their senses and ban them or at the very least ensure their fans are made fully aware of the risks they pose.”

Noise induced hearing loss causes real human misery, which charities like Deafness Research UK are working to prevent. Extended exposure to noise at just 85 decibels is enough to risk irreversible hearing damage. At 130 decibels, it’s possible that some people are going to come away from this season with the sound of silence rather than the sound of victory ringing in their ears. Frequent exposure to the sound of these trumpets has the potential to become a long term ticking time bomb – leading to an explosion of additional tinnitus suffers in decades to come.
                   
Rugby and Football bosses continue to insist there will be no blanket ban, leaving the responsibility to make the right decision at the door of each individual club. Deafness Research UK hopes others will now join Leicester Tigers in the scrum to see these things on the sidelines.

“We can only hope that all undecided clubs will heed the call from charities, fans alike and preserve the spirit of our national sports like Rugby Union as well as the nation’s hearing and join the Leicester Tigers in kicking these terrible trumpets into touch,” concluded Vivienne.

For information on deafness and deafness-related conditions e-mail info@deafnessresearch.org.uk  or visit Deafness Research UK’s website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

Photo caption: Vivienne Michael, Chef Executive of Deafness Research UK               
About Deafness Research UK

•Deafness Research UK is the country’s only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people.
•The charity supports high quality medical research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus.
•The Deafness Research UK Information Service provides free information and advice based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The Information Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222
•For more information on research into deafness, tinnitus and other hearing conditions, log on to the website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk where you can access a wide range of information. Alternatively you can e-mail Deafness Research UK at info@deafnessresearch.org.uk
•One in seven people in the UK – almost nine million people - suffer hearing loss.
•Deafness Research UK was founded in 1985 by Lord (Jack) and Lady Ashley of Stoke.
•In January 2008, Action for Tinnitus Research (ATR) was linked with Deafness Research UK under a uniting direction order under section 96(6) of the Charities Act 1993.
   
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Ref: DRUK0301 – DRUK and Leicester Tigers

www.deafnessresearch.org.uk

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