Motorcycle enthusiasts often mention the thrill of speed and the love for the open road as the primary reasons behind their enthusiasm. But this invigorating hobby comes at a high risk of permanent hearing damage for people who ride a lot.
An extensive study carried out by a prominent German automobile association in partnership with a maker of hearing protection solutions evaluated the effect of riding duration and motorcycle speed on hearing health. The findings were alarming: bikers can suffer irreversible hearing damage after only 15 minutes of riding without earplugs at a speed of 62 mph.
What causes hearing loss in motorcyclists?
While the concept of hearing loss may not come as a complete surprise, the primary culprit could. The greatest threat isn’t the raging engine, contrary to the common belief, it’s really the wind. The research highlighted that even though helmets offer crucial protection during crashes, they fall short in protecting 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.
Motorcyclists are often affected by a condition called temporary threshold shift (TTS), which is triggered by frequent exposure to extreme noise levels. TTS is a progressive condition, meaning the more you are exposed to loud noises, the more intense the symptoms can become. At first, TTS sufferers may notice minor symptoms like a temporary decrease in hearing clarity. However, over time, this condition can advance to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
How do other noises compare to wind noise?
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. 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 traveling 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 occur after just 7 minutes of riding at 74 mph which produces wind volumes of 98 dB. Other studies validate these findings, suggesting that bikers are indeed at a considerable risk of hearing loss.
Protecting your ears
Luckily, it’s easy to safeguard your hearing with earplugs. Hearing specialists strongly recommend making use of filtered earplugs, which are far superior to the old, uncomfortable versions many are familiar with. Filtered earplugs are a more sophisticated model that filters out high frequencies like wind while allowing lower frequencies to get through. This means you can 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 sensations of riding without feeling isolated or numb, a common downside of older protective devices. With filtered earplugs, you can continue to enjoy 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 appeal of speed and freedom, it’s essential to recognize and minimize the associated hazards to your hearing. Significant and irreversible hearing damage can be caused by the noise of wind at high speeds. But bikers can protect their long-term hearing while still enjoying the ride by simply utilizing a set of quality earplugs.
Give us a call today to find out more about hearing protection so you can stay on top of your hearing health.