@article{ref1,
title="The effect of head protection on the hearing of rugby players",
journal="British journal of sports medicine",
year="2008",
author="Kieran, S. M. and Dunne, James and Hughes, J. P. and Fenton, J. E.",
volume="42",
number="9",
pages="779-780",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: Professional rugby players utilise various methods of head protection to prevent against the development of a pinna haematoma. This study tests the hypothesis that these measures, whilst preventing injury, decrease the wearers' hearing threshold and therefore their performance. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Eight patients had free field audiometry performed in a soundproof room, with warble tones. All patients were young men (mean 24.75 years (range 22-34)). No participant had ear symptomatology or a past history of ear surgery. Three separate audiological assessments were performed on each patient: normal free field audiometry in a sound field room, following application of adhesive tape and whilst wearing a scrum cap. All measurements were performed by a single audiological scientist. A significant clinical drop in hearing threshold was defined as an increase of 10 dB. RESULTS: No patient demonstrated a significant drop in hearing threshold following the application of either tape or a scrum cap, nor was there a significant difference in the mean (SD) warble tone average: air 7.03 (5.47); tape 7.19 (6.40); scrum cap 6.56 (5.58). CONCLUSION: Theoretical concerns that &quot;ear taping&quot; and scrum caps affect hearing of rugby players are unfounded and should not discourage their use.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0306-3674",
doi="10.1136/bjsm.2007.043422",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2007.043422"
}