Love of the open road and the thrill of speed are at the top of the list of reasons why people love to ride motorcycles. However, if you’re an avid rider, you should know about a significant risk: research has linked this exhilarating hobby to permanent hearing damage.
The impact of motorcycle speed and riding duration on hearing health was evaluated in a detailed study performed by a hearing protection maker in collaboration with a notable German automobile association. The conclusions were startling: bikers can suffer irreversible hearing damage after just 15 minutes of riding without hearing protection at a speed of 62 mph.
Why do bikers get hearing loss?
You may not be surprised that bikers frequently suffer from loss of hearing, but you might be surprised as to why. In spite of what many think, it isn’t the motorcycle’s roaring engine but rather, the wind that poses the greatest threat. The research highlighted that although helmets provide critical protection during accidents, they fall short in protecting a biker’s hearing. Improvements to the helmet, like additional padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to mitigate the wind noise whirling around the rider.
Motorcyclists are often affected by a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS), which is triggered by regular exposure to extreme noise levels. TTS is a progressive condition, meaning the more you’re exposed to loud noises, the more intense the symptoms can become. Individuals who are coping with TTS might begin to notice 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 severity 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, have to utilize ear protection by law if the volume exceeds 80 dB. Bikers are enduring noise levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when traveling at this speed.
And the noise level only increases as the speed increases. At 74 mph, wind volume can reach 98 dB, a level that can cause hearing damage after just 7 minutes of exposure. Other studies corroborate these findings, suggesting that bikers are indeed at a significant risk of hearing loss.
How to safeguard your hearing
The good news is, it’s simple to protect 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 sophisticated model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get in. This means you’re able to hear crucial sounds like sirens, horns, and human speech, which are vital for a biker’s safety.
Bikers are also able to get the total experience of riding without feeling isolated or cut off from the external world which can’t be said for the old traditional style. With filtered earplugs, you can continue to experience the thrill of the ride while safeguarding 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 hearing safe from wind noise. The wind noise created at high speeds can cause substantial and permanent hearing damage in a very short time period. But bikers can safeguard their long-term hearing while still enjoying the ride by simply using a pair of quality earplugs.
Call today to learn more about hearing protection so you can keep on top of your hearing health.
