The game of golf is filled with hazards. Water, bunkers and sand traps can all wreak havoc on your game—and so can hearing loss.
Driver-Induced Hearing Loss
Studies have shown that you can experience driver-induced hearing loss if the noise level generated by your golf club thwacking your ball exceeds 116 dBA. People who use thin-faced titanium drivers may be particularly at risk—a 2009 study profiled a 55-year-old man who developed tinnitus and hearing loss in his right ear after golfing with a titanium driver three days a week for 18 months.
Hearing the Sound of Your Swing Is Crucial
Damaging your hearing is not ideal, of course, but it can affect how you play the game of golf. Good hearing is essential for paying close attention to the sound made when the club head comes into contact with the ball.
Hearing the tone produced by the club striking the ball can help the golfer judge how well the ball was hit and allow them to make any necessary adjustments for the next swing. Changes in tone and volume indicate a different swing of the club; by paying close attention to both the feel of the club making contact with the ball and the sound produced, golfers will naturally play a better game over time.
Regular hearing evaluations by a qualified audiologist are a good idea for avid golfers. The earlier hearing loss is detected, the more options you have for treatment and the better your odds of success.
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