Motorcycle enthusiasts often cite the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the driving force behind their passion. However, if you’re a devoted rider, you should know about a significant risk: research has connected this thrilling hobby to permanent hearing damage.
The impact of motorcycle speed and riding duration on hearing health was examined in a detailed study carried out by a hearing protection manufacturer in collaboration with a notable German automobile association. Alarmingly, at speeds of 62 or higher, for just 15 minutes, riders who don’t utilize hearing protection can suffer irreversible hearing damage.
What causes hearing loss in bikers?
You might not be surprised that bikers frequently suffer from hearing loss, but you might be surprised as to why. Contrary to what many believe, it’s not the motorcycle’s roaring engine but instead, the wind that poses the greatest hazard. While helmets offer significant protection from injury during crashes, the research stresses that they fall short in safeguarding the rider’s hearing. The wind noise whipping around the rider’s head isn’t decreased much even when a helmet has added padding, vents, or other improvements.
Bikers are frequently affected by a condition known as temporary threshold shift (TTS), which is triggered by regular exposure to extreme noise levels. TTS is a progressive condition, which means the more you are exposed to loud noises, the more intense the symptoms can become. People who are coping with TTS might start to notice that their hearing is less clear or other minor symptoms. However, over time, this condition can advance to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
How do other noises compare to wind noise?
To grasp the severity of wind noise while riding, the German study’s results are illuminating. The wind noise around a rider’s head can reach 95 (dB) at 62 mph. For context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers need to safeguard their ears if exposed to noise levels higher than 80 dB. Bikers are experiencing volume levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when traveling at this speed.
And the noise level only gets louder as the speed increases. Hearing damage can take place after only 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 considerable risk of hearing loss.
How to safeguard your hearing
The good news is, it’s easy 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 advanced model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get in. It’s important for bikers to still be able to hear vital sounds like human voices, sirens, and car horns.
Bikers are also able to get the full experience of riding without feeling isolated or cut off from the outside world which can’t be said for the old conventional style. You can protect your ears from harmful wind noise while still experiencing the thrill of the ride by using 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. Significant and permanent hearing damage can be caused by the noise of wind at high speeds. But bikers can safeguard their long-term hearing while still enjoying the ride by simply using a set of quality earplugs.
Give us a call today to find out more about hearing protection so you can keep on top of your hearing health.
