Noisy vuvuzelas can damage hearing

They perhaps are the iconic sound of the South Africa 2010 World Cup, but doctors warn fans to protect their hearing from the plastic deafening horns.

FIFA president on vuvuzela

FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s on twitter declared - "To answer all your messages re the vuvuzelas, I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound… I don't see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"

But unlike to what Blatter thinks, The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) suggest that there’s a risk of short-term tinnitus or everlasting hearing damage probable by listening to vuvuzelas all day long.

A hit with South African supporters, they are louder than a chain saw or lawn mower at 110 decibels and an ambulance siren at 120.

Soccer players blame it on vuvuzela

French team’s Patrice Evra blamed his team’s disappointing tie with Uruguay on the deafening blow. "We can't sleep at night because of the vuvuzelas," he said. "People start playing them from 6 a.m. We can't hear one another out on the pitch because of them."

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal agrees that the vuvuzelas are irritating for players, but we all will have to discover a way to deal with it.

"It's part of people who like to celebrate and who like to make noise. We have to respect it."

Respond to the criticism, their creators hold out that the vuvuzela is very "lekker" — South African slang for "cool."