Motorcycle enthusiasts often mention the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the driving force behind their enthusiasm. However, if you’re a passionate rider, you should be aware of a significant risk: research has connected this stimulating hobby to permanent hearing damage.
A comprehensive study done by a prominent German automobile association in collaboration 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 utilize hearing protection can suffer permanent hearing damage.
Why do motorcycle riders get hearing loss?
You may not be surprised that bikers frequently suffer from hearing loss, but you may be surprised as to why. Contrary to what many believe, it isn’t the motorcycle’s roaring engine but instead, the wind that poses the greatest threat. While helmets offer significant protection from injury during crashes, the research highlights that they fall short in safeguarding the rider’s hearing. The wind noise whipping around the rider’s head isn’t reduced much even when a helmet has extra padding, vents, or other improvements.
Bikers are frequently affected by a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS), which results from regular exposure to excessive noise levels. The more often you are exposed to loud noise, the more intense your TTS symptoms will be with this progressive condition. At first, TTS sufferers might notice minor symptoms like a temporary decrease in hearing clarity. However, over time, this condition can progress to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
How do other noises compare to wind noise?
To grasp 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. For context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers must safeguard their ears if exposed to volume levels higher than 80 dB. This means that bikers riding at this speed without ear protection are exposed to volume levels nearly 19% higher than what is deemed safe in a work environment.
And the noise level only gets louder as the speed goes up. Hearing damage can occur after just 7 minutes of riding at 74 mph which produces wind volumes of 98 dB. Other studies validate these findings, suggesting that bikers are indeed at a significant risk of hearing loss.
Safeguarding your ears
Fortunately, protecting your hearing while riding is both easy and effective: use earplugs. Hearing specialists strongly recommend utilizing filtered earplugs, which are far better than the old, uncomfortable versions many are familiar with. These sophisticated earplugs are designed to protect your eardrums from high-pitched noises like wind while still allowing lower frequency sounds to get in. It’s crucial 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 exhilaration 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 damaging effects of wind noise.
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 produced at high speeds can cause significant and permanent hearing damage in a really short time period. However, with the basic addition of quality earplugs, bikers can continue to enjoy their rides while protecting their long-term hearing health.
Call today to find out more about hearing protection so you can keep on top of your hearing health.
