Motorcycle enthusiasts often mention 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 be aware of a substantial risk: research has linked this thrilling hobby to irreversible hearing damage.
A comprehensive study done by a prominent German automobile association in collaboration with a maker of hearing protection solutions examined the effect of riding time and motorcycle speed on hearing health. Alarmingly, at speeds of 62 or higher, for just 15 minutes, riders who don’t utilize hearing protection can suffer irreversible hearing damage.
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. Contrary to what many think, it isn’t the motorcycle’s roaring engine but rather, the wind that presents the greatest threat. The research emphasized that even though helmets offer critical protection during crashes, they fall short in safeguarding a biker’s hearing. Enhancements to the helmet, like extra padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to decrease the wind noise swirling around the rider.
Bikers are frequently affected by a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS), which results from regular exposure to extreme noise levels. TTS is a progressive condition, which means the more you’re exposed to loud noises, the worse the symptoms can become. At first, TTS sufferers might notice minor symptoms like a temporary decrease in hearing clarity. However, over time, this condition can progress to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
Comparing wind noise with other noise levels
The German study sheds a lot of light on just how extreme wind noise can be while riding. The wind noise around a rider’s head can be as high as 95 (dB) at 62 mph. For context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers must safeguard their ears if exposed to volume levels exceeding 80 dB. Bikers are enduring volume levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when traveling at this speed.
And the noise level only gets louder as the speed goes up. At 74 mph, wind noise can reach 98 dB, a level that can trigger hearing damage after just 7 minutes of exposure. Many studies confirm that bikers are indeed at substantial risk of irreversible hearing loss.
How to protect your hearing
The good news is, it’s easy to safeguard your hearing with earplugs. Most people are familiar with the old basic earplugs, but hearing specialists recommend the filtered versions instead. 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 crucial sounds like sirens, horns, and human speech, which are vital for a biker’s safety.
Furthermore, these modern earplugs let bikers enjoy the exhilaration of riding without feeling cut off or numb, a common drawback of older protective devices. You can protect your ears from damaging wind noise while still enjoying the thrill of the ride by using filtered earplugs.
While the passion for motorcycling is powered by the appeal of speed and freedom, it’s essential to acknowledge and minimize the associated hazards to your hearing. Substantial 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 protecting their long-term hearing health.
Stay on top of your hearing health by contacting us to discuss hearing protection.
