DIFA is committed to fair, transparent and consistent eligibility standards across all DIFA-sanctioned competitions, including the DIFA World Cup. Every athlete who competes under the DIFA banner must meet our audiological eligibility requirements, ensuring that Deaf football remains a sport built on integrity, inclusion and equal opportunity.
DIFA’s audiogram regulations have been developed in alignment with global best practice in Deaf sport and in accordance with DIFA’s own governance framework, supported by FIFA’s ongoing commitment to the development of Deaf football worldwide.
SECTION 1: WHO MUST SUBMIT AN AUDIOGRAM
Every athlete wishing to compete in a DIFA-sanctioned competition must submit a completed DIFA Audiogram Data Sheet, verified by a qualified audiologist.
This applies to:
- All new athletes registering with DIFA for the first time
- Athletes whose existing audiogram has expired (audiograms must not be more than one year old at the time of competition)
- Athletes requested to undergo retesting by DIFA’s Audiology Commission
Your National Deaf Football Federation is responsible for checking, collecting and submitting audiogram forms on behalf of their athletes.
SECTION 2: ELIGIBILITY STANDARD
To be eligible to compete in DIFA-sanctioned competitions, an athlete must have:
A hearing loss of at least 55 decibels (dB) Pure Tone Average (PTA) in the better ear
This is measured as a three-tone pure tone average at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz, air conduction, in accordance with the ISO 1969 Standard.
Cochlear Implants If an athlete has a cochlear implant in one ear, they do not need to be tested in that ear. However the audiologist must clearly note which ear has the cochlear implant on the DIFA Audiogram Data Sheet. The athlete must still be tested in the non-implanted ear.
Hearing Devices During Competition It is strictly prohibited for any athlete to wear hearing aids, amplification devices or external cochlear implant components during warm-up or competition within the restricted zone area. Using amplification during competition provides an unfair advantage and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
SECTION 3: WHAT THE AUDIOGRAM MUST INCLUDE
The DIFA Audiogram Data Sheet must be completed in full by a qualified audiologist. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
The following four tests must be completed for each ear:
1. Air Conduction and Bone Conduction Air conduction must be tested at 250 Hz through to 8000 Hz. Bone conduction must be tested at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz.
2. Impedance Tympanometry The following must be recorded for each ear:
- Canal Volume (ml)
- Peak Pressure (daPa)
- Gradient (daPa)
- Peak Compliance (ml)
3. Reflexometry (Acoustic Reflex Thresholds) Both ipsilateral and contralateral acoustic reflex thresholds must be recorded for each ear at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz.
4. Pure Tone Average The Pure Tone Average (500-1000-2000 Hz) must be calculated and recorded for both air and bone conduction for each ear.
Type of Hearing Loss The audiologist must indicate the type of hearing loss for each ear: Sensorineural, Conductive, Mixed or Cochlear Implant.
SECTION 4: SUBMITTING YOUR AUDIOGRAM
Deadlines All audiogram forms must be submitted to your National Deaf Football Federation no later than three (3) months before the relevant DIFA competition. Audiograms must not be more than one (1) year old at the time of submission.
Late submissions may be subject to a fee in accordance with the DIFA Fee Schedule.
How to Submit Athletes do not submit audiograms directly to DIFA. The process is as follows:
- Athlete completes audiogram testing with a qualified audiologist using the official DIFA Audiogram Data Sheet.
- The completed form is provided to the athlete’s National Deaf Football Federation.
- The National Deaf Football Federation reviews the form for completeness and submits it to DIFA through the official submission process.
- DIFA’s Audiology Commission reviews the submission and assigns the appropriate status.
Audiogram Status Codes
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| N | Approved by national audiologist (home tested) |
| C | Reviewed and approved by DIFA audiologist |
| V | Tested and verified by DIFA designated audiologist at competition |
| X | At risk / borderline – requires retesting at competition |
| INC | Incomplete – form not fully completed, must be resubmitted |
| DQ | Disqualified – does not meet 55dB PTA eligibility criteria |
SECTION 5: AT THE COMPETITION
Athletes must have an approved audiogram on the system before the first day of competition. The following rules apply:
- Athletes without an audiogram on file will not be permitted to compete.
- Athletes with an INC (incomplete) status will not be permitted to compete.
- Athletes with a DQ (disqualified) status will not be permitted to compete.
- Athletes with an N (home tested) status may be retested by the DIFA designated audiologist at the competition.
- Athletes with a C (approved) status may be subject to random retesting.
- Athletes with a V (verified) status have already been tested by a DIFA designated audiologist and do not require further testing unless DIFA has specific concerns.
DIFA reserves the right to test or retest any previously approved athlete at any time if there is reason to suspect fraud or deception.
Athletes who refuse to undergo testing will be disqualified from the competition.
SECTION 6: BORDERLINE HEARING LEVELS (55-65dB)
Athletes with a Pure Tone Average between 55dB and 65dB are considered borderline and will be subject to careful additional examination.
This range requires additional scrutiny because human audiological test-retest reliability is approximately plus or minus 10dB. This means an athlete tested on two separate days may show up to 10dB variation without any intentional misrepresentation.
For borderline athletes, DIFA’s Audiology Commission will review the tympanometry and reflexometry data submitted alongside the pure tone audiogram to cross-check the results. National Deaf Football Federations are encouraged to have borderline athletes retested on a subsequent day and submit both audiograms to DIFA for review.
The following table is used by DIFA audiologists to cross-check acoustic reflex thresholds against hearing thresholds for borderline assessments:
| Hearing Threshold (dB HL) | Acoustic Reflex Threshold at 500 Hz | Acoustic Reflex Threshold at 1000 Hz | Acoustic Reflex Threshold at 2000 Hz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 – 25 | 75 – 95 dB HL | 75 – 95 dB HL | 75 – 95 dB HL |
| 30 – 40 | 75 – 95 dB HL | 75 – 95 dB HL | 75 – 100 dB HL |
| 45 | 80 – 95 dB HL | 80 – 95 dB HL | 75 – 105 dB HL |
| 50 | 80 – 100 dB HL | 80 – 100 dB HL | 80 – 105 dB HL |
| 55 | 80 – 105 dB HL | 85 – 105 dB HL | 85 – 110 dB HL |
| 60 | 85 – 105 dB HL | 85 – 110 dB HL | 85 – 115 dB HL |
| 65 | 90 – 110 dB HL | 90 – 110 dB HL | 90 – 115 dB HL |
| 70 | 95 – 115 dB HL | 95 – 115 dB HL | 90 – 120 dB HL |
| 75 | 95 – 120 dB HL | 95 – 120 dB HL | 90 – 125 dB HL |
| 80 | 100 – 120 dB HL | 100 – 125 dB HL | 100 to >125 dB HL |
| 85 | 100 to >125 dB HL | 100 to >125 dB HL | 110 to >125 dB HL |
| >90 | >125 dB HL | >125 dB HL | >125 dB HL |
Note: Athletes with conductive or mixed hearing loss are unlikely to produce ipsilateral or contralateral acoustic reflexes. Approximately 5% of adults with no identifiable hearing loss or auditory pathology also have no acoustic reflexes. DIFA’s Audiology Commission takes these factors into account when assessing borderline cases.
SECTION 7: VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES
Wearing a Hearing Device During Competition
If an athlete is found to be wearing a hearing aid, amplification device or external cochlear implant component during warm-up or competition within the restricted zone:
- In individual sports: the athlete is immediately disqualified from that specific event only. Participation in other events is not affected unless a separate violation occurs.
- In team sports including football: the athlete is disqualified from the current match in accordance with the rules of the relevant International Federation. The team is not automatically disqualified however the athlete’s National Deaf Football Federation will be subject to a financial penalty as determined by the DIFA Executive Committee.
- Repeat violations by the same athlete or multiple athletes from the same National Federation will result in escalating penalties including additional financial penalties and potential suspension.
Audiogram Fraud
DIFA takes audiogram fraud extremely seriously. National Deaf Football Federations found to have manipulated, falsified or engaged in deception regarding audiogram submissions may face:
- A minimum four (4) year suspension from all DIFA-sanctioned competitions
- Permanent expulsion from DIFA in cases of serious or repeated fraud
SECTION 8: CONFIDENTIALITY
All audiogram data and personal athlete information collected by DIFA is treated as strictly confidential. DIFA complies with best practice data protection standards including:
- Audiogram data is stored securely with access limited to authorised DIFA personnel only.
- Personal identifying information is never disclosed publicly.
- Medical records are not released without the written consent of the athlete, except where de-identified data is used for statistical purposes.
All DIFA Executive Committee members, secretariat staff, confederation representatives and National Deaf Football Federation officials are required to maintain the confidentiality of athlete medical records.
SECTION 9: DOWNLOAD THE DIFA AUDIOGRAM DATA SHEET
This form must be completed three (3) months before the event. Send your completed audiogram form to your National Deaf Football Federation for review and submission to DIFA.
For questions regarding audiogram submissions, please contact DIFA at [xxx@difa.org or relevant contact email].
FOOTER NOTE FOR PAGE
DIFA Audiogram Regulations approved by the DIFA Executive Committee. These regulations apply to all DIFA-sanctioned competitions including the DIFA World Cup. DIFA operates independently under its own governance framework with the support of FIFA’s global football development programs.
