Love of the open road and the thrill of speed are at the top of the list of reasons why people love to ride motorcycles. But this invigorating hobby comes at a high risk of irreversible hearing damage for individuals who ride a lot.
An extensive study conducted by a notable German automobile association in collaboration with a manufacturer of hearing protection solutions examined the impact of riding duration and motorcycle speed on hearing health. Alarmingly, at speeds of 62 or higher, for just 15 minutes, riders who don’t make use of hearing protection can suffer permanent hearing damage.
Why do bikers get hearing loss?
You may not be surprised that bikers frequently suffer from loss of hearing, but you may be surprised as to why. Despite what many believe, it’s not the motorcycle’s roaring engine but rather, the wind that presents the greatest hazard. While helmets offer 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 very much even when a helmet has extra padding, vents, or other modifications.
Regular exposure to extreme noise levels often leaves bikers with a condition known as temporary threshold shift (TTS). TTS is a progressive condition, which means the more you’re exposed to loud noises, the more intense the symptoms can get. At first, TTS sufferers might detect minor symptoms like a temporary reduction in hearing clarity. However, over time, this condition can progress to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
Comparing wind volume with other noise levels
The German study sheds a lot of light on just how severe wind noise can get while riding. At 62 mph, the wind around a biker’s head generates noise levels reaching 95 decibels (dB). For context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers need to safeguard their ears if exposed to volume levels higher than 80 dB. Bikers are enduring volume levels up to 19% higher than safe working environments when traveling at this speed.
And the volume level only increases as the speed goes up. 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 protect your hearing
Luckily, 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 through. It’s important for bikers to still be able to hear important sounds like human voices, emergency warning sounds, 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 traditional style. With filtered earplugs, you can continue to experience the thrill of the ride while safeguarding your hearing from the damaging effects of wind noise.
While the passion for motorcycling is powered by the appeal of speed and freedom, it’s essential to acknowledge and minimize the associated risks to your hearing. The wind noise produced 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 protecting their long-term hearing health.
Call today to find out more about hearing protection so you can keep on top of your hearing health.