Apple Study Finds Super Bowl Sundays Lead to Nationwide Noise Spikes
Research from Apple and the University of Michigan shows a significant rise in noise levels across the U.S. during Super Bowl games, with potential implications for hearing health.
- The Apple Hearing Study, using data from over 115,000 Apple Watch users, found noise levels increase by 1.5 to 3 decibels on Super Bowl Sundays compared to typical Sundays.
- A 3-decibel rise represents a doubling of sound energy, which can have a significant impact on hearing health despite being barely perceptible to the human ear.
- Noise levels spike for about nine hours on game day, starting three hours before kickoff and lasting three hours after the game ends.
- States hosting the Super Bowl or with participating teams experience even greater noise increases, likely due to larger gatherings and louder celebrations.
- Apple recommends using tools like the Noise app on Apple Watch and Hearing Protection features on AirPods Pro 2 to monitor and mitigate noise exposure during such events.
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