Motorcycle enthusiasts often cite the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the driving force behind their enthusiasm. But this exhilarating hobby comes at a high risk of irreversible hearing damage for people who ride a lot.
A comprehensive study carried out by a notable German automobile association in partnership with a manufacturer of hearing protection solutions evaluated the effect 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 irreversible hearing damage.
Why do bikers get hearing loss?
While the idea of hearing loss may not come as a complete surprise, the leading culprit might. The greatest threat isn’t the roaring engine, contrary to the common belief, it’s actually the wind. The research emphasized that although helmets offer critical protection during accidents, they fall short in protecting a biker’s hearing. Enhancements to the helmet, such as additional padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to decrease the wind noise swirling around the rider.
Motorcyclists are frequently impacted by a condition known as temporary threshold shift (TTS), which is triggered by frequent exposure to excessive noise levels. The more frequently you’re exposed to loud noise, the worse your TTS symptoms will become with this progressive condition. At first, TTS sufferers may detect minor symptoms like a temporary decrease in hearing clarity. But permanent hearing loss can, over time, be the result.
Comparing wind noise with other noise levels
To understand the severity of wind noise while riding, the German study’s conclusions are illuminating. At 62 mph, the wind around a biker’s head produces noise levels reaching 95 decibels (dB). For context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers must protect their ears if exposed to noise levels exceeding 80 dB. Bikers are enduring noise levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when riding at this speed.
And the volume level only increases as the speed goes up. At 74 mph, wind volume can reach 98 dB, a level that can cause hearing damage after only 7 minutes of exposure. Many studies confirm that bikers are indeed at considerable risk of irreversible hearing loss.
How to protect your hearing
Fortunately, safeguarding your hearing while riding is both simple and effective: use earplugs. Hearing specialists emphatically recommend utilizing filtered earplugs, which are far better than the old, uncomfortable versions many are familiar with. Filtered earplugs are a more sophisticated model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get in. This means you can hear crucial sounds like sirens, horns, and human speech, which are critical for a biker’s safety.
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 traditional style. You can protect your ears from harmful wind noise while still enjoying the thrill of the ride by making use of 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. Considerable and irreversible hearing damage can be caused by the noise of wind at high speeds. However, with the basic addition of quality earplugs, bikers can continue to enjoy their rides while safeguarding their long-term hearing health.
Give us a call today to learn more about hearing protection so you can stay on top of your hearing health.