Motorcycle enthusiasts frequently mention the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the driving force behind their passion. But this exciting hobby comes at a high risk of permanent hearing damage for people who ride a lot.
The impact of motorcycle speed and riding time on hearing health was examined in a detailed study carried out by a hearing protection maker in cooperation with a prominent German automobile association. The results were startling: bikers can suffer irreversible hearing damage after just 15 minutes of riding without earplugs at a speed of 62 mph.
What causes hearing loss in bikers?
While the notion of hearing loss may not come as a complete surprise, the primary culprit might. Contrary to what many think, it isn’t the motorcycle’s roaring engine but rather, the wind that presents the greatest threat. The research highlighted that even though helmets provide critical protection during accidents, they fall short in safeguarding a biker’s hearing. Enhancements to the helmet, like added padding, vents, or weather stripping, do little to reduce the wind noise swirling around the rider.
Motorcyclists are frequently impacted by a condition known as temporary threshold shift (TTS), which results from regular exposure to extreme noise levels. The more often you’re exposed to loud noise, the more intense your TTS symptoms will become with this progressive condition. At first, TTS sufferers might detect minor symptoms like a temporary reduction in hearing clarity. But irreversible hearing loss can, over time, be the outcome.
Comparing wind noise with other noise levels
To grasp the seriousness of wind noise while riding, the German study’s results are illuminating. The wind noise around a rider’s head can reach 95 (dB) at 62 mph. For context, European Union (EU) law mandates that workers need to protect their ears if exposed to volume levels higher than 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.
And the noise level only gets louder as the speed goes up. Hearing damage can take place after just 7 minutes of riding at 74 mph which produces wind volumes of 98 dB. Many studies confirm that bikers are indeed at significant risk of permanent hearing loss.
Protecting your ears
The good news is, it’s easy to safeguard 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 in. This means you’re able to hear crucial sounds like sirens, horns, and human speech, which are vital for a biker’s safety.
Moreover, these modern earplugs allow bikers to enjoy the exhilaration of riding without feeling isolated or numb, a common disadvantage of older protective devices. You can safeguard your ears from damaging wind noise while still experiencing the thrill of the ride by making use of filtered earplugs.
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 created at high speeds can cause considerable and irreversible hearing damage in a very short time. But bikers can protect their long-term hearing while still enjoying the ride by simply using a pair of quality earplugs.
Stay on top of your hearing health by calling us to discuss hearing protection.