Love of the open road and the thrill of speed are at the top of the list of reasons why individuals love riding motorcycles. However, if you’re a devoted rider, you should be aware of a significant risk: research has linked this stimulating hobby to irreversible hearing damage.
A comprehensive study conducted by a notable German automobile association in collaboration with a maker of hearing protection solutions evaluated the effect of riding time and motorcycle speed on hearing health. The findings were startling: bikers can suffer permanent hearing damage after only 15 minutes of riding without earplugs at a speed of 62 mph.
Why do bikers get hearing loss?
You might not be surprised that bikers frequently suffer from hearing loss, but you might be surprised as to why. The greatest threat isn’t the roaring engine, contrary to the common belief, it’s really the wind. The research emphasized that even though helmets offer critical protection during crashes, they fall short in protecting a biker’s hearing. Enhancements to the helmet, such as extra padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to decrease the wind noise whirling around the rider.
Frequent exposure to excessive noise levels often leaves bikers with a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS). The more frequently you’re exposed to loud noise, the worse your TTS symptoms will become with this progressive condition. People who are coping with TTS might start to detect that their hearing is less clear or other minor symptoms. 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 findings are illuminating. At 62 mph, the wind around a biker’s head creates noise levels reaching 95 decibels (dB). For context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers must safeguard their ears if exposed to noise levels exceeding 80 dB. Bikers are experiencing volume levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when riding at this speed.
As the speed increases, 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. Many studies corroborate that bikers are indeed at substantial risk of permanent hearing loss.
Safeguarding your ears
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 advanced model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get in. This means you’re able to hear essential sounds like sirens, horns, and human speech, which are critical for a biker’s safety.
Bikers are also able to get the total 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 damaging wind noise while still experiencing the thrill of the ride by utilizing filtered earplugs.
It is possible to enjoy the thrill of speed and the freedom of the open road while still keeping your ears safe from wind noise. Substantial and permanent 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 find out more about hearing protection so you can stay on top of your hearing health.