Motorcycle enthusiasts often cite the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the primary reasons behind their passion. But this exhilarating hobby comes at a high risk of irreversible hearing damage for people who ride a lot.
The effect of motorcycle speed and riding time on hearing health was assessed in a detailed study carried out by a hearing protection maker in cooperation with a notable German automobile association. The conclusions were alarming: bikers can suffer irreversible hearing damage after just 15 minutes of riding without hearing protection at a speed of 62 mph.
What causes hearing loss in motorcyclists?
You may not be surprised that bikers frequently suffer from loss of hearing, but you may be surprised as to why. In spite of what many believe, it’s not the motorcycle’s roaring engine but rather, the wind that poses the biggest threat. Although helmets offer significant protection from injury during crashes, the research stresses that they fall short in safeguarding the rider’s hearing. Improvements to the helmet, like added padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to mitigate the wind noise swirling around the rider.
Regular exposure to excessive noise levels often leaves bikers with a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS). The more frequently you’re exposed to loud noise, the more intense your TTS symptoms will become with this progressive condition. People who are dealing with TTS might start to detect that their hearing is less clear or other minor symptoms. But permanent hearing loss can, over time, be the result.
How do other noises compare to wind volume?
To comprehend the seriousness of wind noise while riding, the German study’s results are illuminating. The wind noise around a rider’s head can be as high as 95 (dB) at 62 mph. Workers in Europe, for instance, need to use ear protection by law if the volume exceeds 80 dB. This means that bikers traveling at this speed without ear protection are exposed to noise levels nearly 19% higher than what is considered safe in a work environment.
As the speed increases, so does the noise level. Hearing damage can take place after just 7 minutes of riding at 74 mph which generates wind volumes of 98 dB. Other studies validate these findings, indicating that bikers are indeed at a significant risk of hearing loss.
Safeguarding your ears
The good news is, it’s simple to protect your hearing with earplugs. Most people are familiar with the old basic earplugs, but hearing specialists recommend the filtered versions instead. Filtered earplugs are a more sophisticated model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get through. It’s important for bikers to still be able to hear vital sounds like human voices, sirens, and car horns.
Furthermore, these modern earplugs let bikers enjoy the sensations of riding without feeling cut off or numb, a common drawback of older protective devices. With filtered earplugs, you can continue to experience the thrill of the ride while protecting your hearing from the harmful effects of wind noise.
It is possible to enjoy the excitement of speed and the freedom of the open road while still keeping your ears safe from wind noise. Significant and permanent hearing damage can be caused by the noise of wind at high speeds. However, with the simple addition of quality earplugs, bikers can continue to enjoy their rides while protecting their long-term hearing health.
Give us a call today to find out more about hearing protection so you can stay on top of your hearing health.