I would agree with you that the sound level at UNH, and at many other arenas, is borderline painful.  I would go even farther to say it is painful.   When we were at UNH my brother-in-law was covering his ears to protect them from the PA music.  We commented that ear plugs were needed but we didn't have them.    There have been quite a few times this season (and others) that I have thought that the music could be turned down a notch and still be plenty loud enough.

Sara
SLU '77
Let's go SAINTS!!!
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Craig Knowles <[log in to unmask]>
> Nathan:
> 
>  
> 
> > "For each 3 dB increase in average noise level, the time you can 
> 
> > safely stay at a level is halved. Thus, at 88 dB, it would take only 4 
> 
> > hours to reach the maximum allowable daily noise dose, at 91 dB it 
> 
> > would take only 2 hours, and so on." Given that the basis is 85dB, a 
> 
> > 3dB increase is 3.5% increase and this 3.5% increase creates a half 
> 
> > life of from 8 hours to 4 hours in exposure? Bull.
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> With all due respect, the article did say at the bottom that it was
> peer-reviewed, so that unless you are an audiologist or otolaryngologist
> yourself, it would seem you don't have a technical basis to make a challenge
> to the findings.  Your objection suggests the Argument from Personal
> Incredulity type of fallacy.  As a person who has experienced long -term
> noise exposure and hearing damage incidental to my employment, I am one of
> those few persons who does wear foam plugs to UNH home games.  I might add
> that the worst exposure does not seem come from the cheers of the fans
> during the game as the music played at excessive volume over the
> loudspeakers before to the game.  It is borderline painful.
> 
>  
> 
> Craig Knowles
> 
> UNH '71
> 
> Go CATS!!
> 
>