Yes, you read that headline right. A Sunday league football match was abandoned because of a hearing aid. I should add – it was being worn at the time.
Deaf footballer Craig Beech’s hearing aids were deemed dangerous by the referee, and when he was asked to remove them, his teammates refused to carry on, leading to the match – which they were losing 1-0 – being abandoned.
This is a new one on me – in my experience, the biggest hazard for a hearing-aid wearer when playing football is rain – I damaged a few of my old aids getting them wet in a sudden downpour. But actually hurting a player? That seems unlikely.
Predictably, there’s been a bit of an outcry – read the full story in The Sun online here.
By Charlie Swinbourne, Editor
Enjoying our eggs? Support The Limping Chicken:
The Limping Chicken is the world's most popular Deaf blog, and is edited by Deaf journalist, screenwriter and director Charlie Swinbourne.
Our posts represent the opinions of blog authors, they do not represent the site's views or those of the site's editor. Posting a blog does not imply agreement with a blog's content. Read our disclaimer here and read our privacy policy here.
Find out how to write for us by clicking here, and how to follow us by clicking here.
The site exists thanks to our supporters. Check them out below:
- BSL Zone: TV programmes in BSL for the Deaf community
- Deaf Umbrella: what support is available for deaf students?
- Bellman & Symfon: home alerting solutions, including the mobile phone transceiver!
- SignVideo: Instant BSL video interpreting online
- SignHealth: check out the BSL health library
- 999 BSL: call 999 in an emergency, in BSL
- Appa: Looking for RSLIs, TSLIs and CSWs, apply here!
- Signly: Adding BSL to websites
- Signworld: Learn BSL online!
- DCAL: world-class research into deafness, cognition and language
- Action Deafness: “A Deaf-Led Charity” – interpreting & community support services
- Sign Solutions: Instant access to Interpreters, training and BSL translation nationwide
- InterpretersLive: On demand BSL video interpretation
- Lipspeaker UK: specialist lipspeaking support
- BID: Deaf services, including advice and support, interpreting, employment and letters
- Performance Interpreting: BSL interpreting at concerts
- National Deaf Children's Society: The leading charity for deaf children
Don T.
March 2, 2012
The danger is to the hearing aid wearer. The ear mold that’s in the ear is right next to the ear drum and if the hearing aid gets hit or bumped, the ear drum will be split, blood going everywhere…..at minimum.
Editor
March 2, 2012
I’m not sure about that. I played over 300 games of football with two hearing aids on, had a few whacks to the ear but never any injuries.
I’m not sure an ear mould could ever fit down an ear canal enough to damage an eardrum but if anyone out there knows more, do let us know..! It’s important we find out.
perceptualaudio
March 3, 2012
The average male ear canal is approx 35-40mm in length, so the footballer would have to have exceptionally deep earmoulds in order for them to come anywhere close to his ear drum. Assuming he was wearing full shell moulds (i.e. moulds that fill the entire concha) rather than earbuds then it’s extremely unlikely that the mould could be forced into his ear anyway, even if he was unlucky enough to recieve a direct blow to the ear. Hard acrylic moulds can sometimes crack, exposing sharp edges, if subjected to a strong impact, so there is potentially some small risk there. However, looking at the photo in the Sun, I can see that he was wearing full-shell soft silicone moulds with a fairly short canal length so I don’t believe they presented any particular risk in themselves.
If the hearing aid itself became crushed against the player’s head it might cause some bruising, and, were it to break, could potentially cut his head or ear, but I believe the risk of significant injury from this to be minimal.
Editor
March 3, 2012
Wow thanks for such a comprehensive reply!
I for one feel a lot safer now…
Don T.
March 3, 2012
You are not listening. I and several I’ve known in my lifetime have actually bled from being smacked on the ear and the blow was not all that hard.
Let me ask: Why is this rule there in the first place?
Editor
March 3, 2012
The rule wasn’t there – thats why the referee is now in trouble.
Don T.
March 4, 2012
Oic, there’s no rule. Well, now that’s different. If the refree’s in trouble for making up something that’s not there, then why this article? Lol…..
gargly
March 4, 2012
The point is that wearing a hearing aid isn’t going to affect a game of football, and the health and safety risk factor being lower than wearing an earring or dentures. Though a whack from a ball will cause some damage on impact, I wouldn’t be concerned that much apart from the issue of insurance of hearing aids…
An issue worth chasing up…perhaps?
Meg
March 5, 2012
If it was such a health and safety issue the Referee’s wouldn’t be allowed to go onto the pitch wearing their earpiece and mic during the game.
Anonymous
March 5, 2012
Well technically there is a rule that states that players must not wear anything that could injure them or another player. The Guidelines state that all items of jewellery are strictly forbidden and must be removed. It doesnt actually state what is considered jewellery though. So the problem is more the referee’s interpretation of the rules. The trouble is the referee’s word is supposed to be final (not that it ever is in football). Someone else mentioned the referee’s earpiece – according to the rules referees are also supposed to be forbidden from wearing jewellery (except for a watch). It’s not just earpieces either, some referees have buzzers attached to their arm (the same as those worn by Deaf footballers sometimes). Not sure whether the rules have kept up with these developments – you would think they did considering top class competitions often demand the use of earpieces etc).
Personally I don’t see a risk either and I played rugby while wearing mine (albeit as a Back to preserve my good looks!).