Motorcycle enthusiasts frequently cite the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the driving force behind their passion. However, if you’re a passionate rider, you should know about a significant risk: research has connected this exhilarating hobby to permanent hearing damage.
An extensive study carried out by a notable German automobile association in collaboration with a maker of hearing protection solutions evaluated 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 permanent hearing damage.
What causes hearing loss in bikers?
While the idea of hearing loss might not come as a complete surprise, the main culprit could. Despite what many believe, it’s not the motorcycle’s roaring engine but instead, the wind that presents the greatest threat. Although helmets provide significant protection from injury during crashes, the research stresses that they fall short in safeguarding the rider’s hearing. Improvements to the helmet, like extra padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to reduce the wind noise whirling around the rider.
Motorcyclists are frequently impacted 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 are exposed to loud noises, the worse the symptoms can get. Individuals who are coping with TTS might start to detect that their hearing is less clear or other minor symptoms. However, over time, this condition can advance to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
Comparing wind noise with other noise levels
To comprehend the seriousness of wind noise while riding, the German study’s findings are illuminating. The wind noise around a rider’s head can reach 95 (dB) at 62 mph. To put into context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers must safeguard their ears if exposed to noise levels exceeding 80 dB. This means that bikers riding at this speed without hearing protection are exposed to volume levels nearly 19% higher than what is regarded as safe in a work environment.
As the speed increases, so does the noise level. At 74 mph, wind noise can reach 98 dB, a level that can cause hearing damage after just 7 minutes of exposure. Many studies corroborate that bikers are indeed at substantial risk of permanent hearing loss.
How to protect your hearing
Fortunately, protecting your hearing while riding is both easy and effective: use earplugs. Most people are familiar with the old basic earplugs, but hearing specialists recommend the filtered versions instead. These advanced earplugs are designed to safeguard your eardrums from high-pitched noises like wind while still allowing lower frequency sounds to penetrate. This means you can hear essential sounds like sirens, horns, and human speech, which are vital for a biker’s safety.
Bikers are also able to get the complete experience of riding without feeling isolated or cut off from the external world which can’t be said for the old conventional style. With filtered earplugs, you can continue to experience the thrill of the ride while safeguarding your hearing from the harmful effects of wind noise.
While the passion for motorcycling is powered by the allure of speed and freedom, it’s important to recognize and mitigate the associated hazards to your hearing. The wind noise generated at high speeds can cause significant and irreversible hearing damage in a very short time period. However, with the basic 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 stay on top of your hearing health.