The effects of hearing loss during sports performances Sports performances have always had an important role in society, starting from 776 BC when the first Olympics (Ancient Olympic Games, 2013). There are many athletic programs one can participate in depending on the interest and focus a person is seeking. The more extreme a sport, the greater the risk of injury for the player. Sports injuries can vary depending on the muscles used during performance. For example, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), high school athletes are responsible for approximately 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations each year. Injuries of all types are important, but injuries affecting the ears in particular are becoming more problematic. Particularly in sports such as rugby, football/high contact sports, swimming and golf. The concerns have become so serious that even fans in stadiums at professional matches are at risk of hearing damage. Each case has a different level of severity, but none of them should be taken lightly. Ears are part of the body and serve many purposes beyond just hearing. It is crucial to promote information about hearing loss in sports performance because not many people see the dangers when participating and do not understand the repercussions of not protecting themselves. The first sport that should take steps to protect its athletes' ears would be rugby. “Rugby is a free-flowing game that features a combination of strength, speed and strategy to move the ball into an opponent's territory. Rugby is a full contact sport, but players wear little to no protective gear. Rugby evolved from football (i.e. football) and...... middle of paper ...... estrong.com/article/369537-percentage-statistics-for-football-players-serious-injury/ (2011). Rugby injury. Pinna pseudocyst associated with rugby injury: report and review of sport-associated ear dermatoses, 19, 5. Swimmer's ear. (n.d.). Treatment at the Mayo Clinic. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/basics/treatment/con-20014723What is Rugby?. (n.d.). Rubgy Overview. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.whatisrugby.com/rugby-basics/rubgy-overview/Youth Sports Injuries Statistics. (n.d.). Statistics. Retrieved March 12, 2014, from http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/media/statistics.aspxZhao, F., & Bardsley, B. (2014). Real-ear acoustic characteristics of impulsive sound generated by golf drivers and estimated risk to hearing: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 4(1), e003517-e003517.