Motorcycle enthusiasts frequently cite the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the primary reasons behind their passion. However, if you’re a passionate rider, you should know about a substantial risk: research has linked this exhilarating hobby to irreversible hearing damage.
The impact of motorcycle speed and riding time on hearing health was examined in a comprehensive study performed by a hearing protection manufacturer in collaboration with a prominent German automobile association. The conclusions were alarming: bikers can suffer irreversible hearing damage after only 15 minutes of riding without earplugs at a speed of 62 mph.
What causes hearing loss in motorcyclists?
While the notion of hearing loss might not come as a complete surprise, the main culprit might. The greatest threat isn’t the raging engine, contrary to the common belief, it’s really the wind. Although helmets provide considerable 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 extra padding, vents, or other modifications.
Bikers are frequently impacted by a condition known as temporary threshold shift (TTS), which results from frequent exposure to excessive noise levels. TTS is a progressive condition, meaning the more you’re exposed to loud noises, the more intense the symptoms can get. Initially, TTS sufferers might notice minor symptoms like a temporary reduction in hearing clarity. However, over time, this condition can advance to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
How do other noises compare to wind noise?
The German study sheds a lot of light on just how severe wind noise can get while riding. The wind noise around a rider’s head can reach 95 (dB) at 62 mph. Workers in Europe, for instance, need to use hearing protection by law if the volume goes beyond 80 dB. Bikers are experiencing volume levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when traveling at this speed.
As the speed increases, so does the noise level. At 74 mph, wind volume can reach 98 dB, a level that can cause hearing damage after only 7 minutes of exposure. Many studies corroborate that bikers are indeed at significant risk of irreversible hearing loss.
Protecting your ears
The good news is, it’s simple to protect your hearing with earplugs. Most people are familiar with the old standard earplugs, but hearing specialists recommend the filtered versions instead. Filtered earplugs are a more sophisticated model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get through. 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 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 safeguard your ears from harmful wind noise while still enjoying the thrill of the ride by utilizing filtered earplugs.
While the passion for motorcycling is fueled by the allure of speed and freedom, it’s crucial to recognize and mitigate the associated hazards to your hearing. The wind noise created at high speeds can cause considerable and permanent hearing damage in a really short time. However, with the simple addition of quality earplugs, bikers can continue to enjoy their rides while safeguarding their long-term hearing health.
Stay on top of your hearing health by contacting us to discuss hearing protection.