Motorcycle enthusiasts often mention the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the primary reasons behind their enthusiasm. However, if you’re a devoted rider, you should be aware of a significant risk: research has connected this exhilarating hobby to irreversible hearing damage.
An in depth study conducted by a notable German automobile association in partnership with a manufacturer of hearing protection solutions evaluated the effect of riding duration and motorcycle speed on hearing health. The findings were alarming: bikers can suffer permanent hearing damage after just 15 minutes of riding without earplugs at a speed of 62 mph.
What causes hearing loss in bikers?
You may not be surprised that bikers often suffer from hearing loss, but you might be surprised as to why. The biggest threat isn’t the roaring engine, contrary to the common belief, it’s really the wind. The research emphasized that although helmets offer critical protection during accidents, they fall short in safeguarding a biker’s hearing. Enhancements to the helmet, like extra padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to reduce the wind noise whirling around the rider.
Bikers are frequently affected by a condition known as temporary threshold shift (TTS), which results from frequent exposure to extreme noise levels. The more frequently you are exposed to loud noise, the more intense your TTS symptoms will become with this progressive condition. Individuals who are dealing with TTS might begin to detect that their hearing is less clear or other minor symptoms. However, over time, this condition can progress to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
How do other noises compare to wind volume?
To grasp the severity of wind noise while riding, the German study’s results 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 volume levels exceeding 80 dB. Bikers are enduring volume levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when riding at this speed.
And the noise level only increases as the speed increases. Hearing damage can happen after only 7 minutes of riding at 74 mph which generates wind volumes of 98 dB. Many studies confirm that bikers are indeed at considerable risk of permanent hearing loss.
Protecting your ears
Thankfully, protecting your hearing while riding is both simple and effective: use earplugs. Most people are familiar with the old basic 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. 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 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 protecting 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 ears safe from wind noise. The wind noise generated at high speeds can cause considerable and irreversible hearing damage in a really short time. But bikers can safeguard their long-term hearing while still enjoying the ride by simply using a set of quality earplugs.
Stay on top of your hearing health by contacting us to talk about hearing protection.