Motorcycle enthusiasts often mention the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the primary reasons behind their passion. But this invigorating hobby comes at a high risk of permanent hearing damage for individuals who ride a lot.
The effect of motorcycle speed and riding duration on hearing health was assessed 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 only 15 minutes, riders who don’t utilize hearing protection can suffer irreversible hearing damage.
Why do motorcycle riders get hearing loss?
You may not be surprised that bikers often suffer from loss of hearing, but you may be surprised as to why. In spite of what many think, it’s not the motorcycle’s roaring engine but rather, the wind that presents the greatest threat. The research highlighted that even though helmets offer critical protection during crashes, they fall short in protecting a biker’s hearing. The wind noise beating around the rider’s head isn’t reduced very much even when a helmet has added padding, vents, or other improvements.
Regular exposure to excessive noise levels often leaves bikers with a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS). TTS is a progressive condition, which means the more you are 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 outcome.
Comparing wind volume with other noise levels
To comprehend the severity 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. Workers in Europe, for example, have to utilize ear protection by law if the volume exceeds 80 dB. This means that bikers riding at this speed without ear protection are exposed to noise levels nearly 19% higher than what is considered safe in a work environment.
As the speed goes up, so does the noise level. Hearing damage can take place after only 7 minutes of riding at 74 mph which produces wind volumes of 98 dB. Many studies corroborate that bikers are indeed at significant risk of permanent hearing loss.
How to safeguard your hearing
Fortunately, protecting your hearing while riding is both simple and effective: use earplugs. Hearing specialists strongly recommend using filtered earplugs, which are far superior to the old, uncomfortable versions most people are familiar with. These sophisticated earplugs are manufactured to protect your eardrums from high-frequency 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.
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. You can protect your ears from damaging wind noise while still enjoying the thrill of the ride by making use of filtered earplugs.
While the passion for motorcycling is fueled by the appeal of speed and freedom, it’s essential to recognize and mitigate the associated risks to your hearing. 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 find out more about hearing protection so you can stay on top of your hearing health.