Love of the open road and the thrill of speed are at the top of the list of reasons why individuals love to ride motorcycles. But this exhilarating hobby comes at a high risk of irreversible hearing damage for individuals who ride a lot.
A comprehensive study done by a notable German automobile association in partnership with a maker of hearing protection solutions examined the impact of riding time and motorcycle speed on hearing health. Alarmingly, at speeds of 62 or higher, for only 15 minutes, riders who don’t use hearing protection can suffer permanent hearing damage.
What causes hearing loss in bikers?
While the concept of hearing loss might not come as a complete surprise, the main culprit might. Despite what many think, it isn’t the motorcycle’s roaring engine but instead, the wind that poses the greatest threat. The research highlighted that although helmets offer critical protection during accidents, they fall short in safeguarding a biker’s hearing. The wind noise whipping around the rider’s head isn’t decreased very much even when a helmet has added padding, vents, or other improvements.
Regular exposure to extreme noise levels often leaves bikers with a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS). TTS is a progressive condition, meaning the more you are exposed to loud noises, the worse the symptoms can become. Initially, TTS sufferers may notice minor symptoms like a temporary reduction in hearing clarity. But permanent hearing loss can, over time, be the result.
How do other noises compare to wind volume?
To understand the seriousness of wind noise while riding, the German study’s findings are illuminating. At 62 mph, the wind around a biker’s head creates noise levels reaching 95 decibels (dB). Workers in Europe, for instance, need to utilize ear protection by law if the volume goes beyond 80 dB. Bikers are experiencing volume levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when riding at this speed.
As the speed goes up, so does the volume level. At 74 mph, wind noise can reach 98 dB, a level that can trigger hearing damage after just 7 minutes of exposure. Other studies corroborate these findings, suggesting that bikers are indeed at a substantial risk of hearing loss.
Safeguarding your ears
Luckily, it’s easy to safeguard your hearing with earplugs. Hearing specialists strongly recommend utilizing filtered earplugs, which are far superior to the old, uncomfortable versions most people are familiar with. Filtered earplugs are a more advanced model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get in. It’s crucial for bikers to still be able to hear vital sounds like human voices, sirens, and car horns.
Bikers are also able to get the complete experience of riding without feeling isolated or cut off from the outside world which can’t be said for the old traditional style. You can safeguard your ears from harmful wind noise while still experiencing the thrill of the ride by utilizing filtered earplugs.
It is possible to enjoy the excitement of speed and the freedom of the open road while still keeping your hearing safe from wind noise. The wind noise generated at high speeds can cause significant and permanent hearing damage in a very short time. But bikers can protect their long-term hearing while still enjoying the ride by simply making use of a set of quality earplugs.
Call today to learn more about hearing protection so you can stay on top of your hearing health.
