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 effect of motorcycle speed and riding time on hearing health was examined in a comprehensive study performed by a hearing protection maker in collaboration with a notable German automobile association. The results 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 loss of hearing, but you may be surprised as to why. In spite of what many believe, it’s not the motorcycle’s roaring engine but instead, the wind that presents the biggest threat. The research highlighted that although helmets offer critical protection during crashes, they fall short in protecting a biker’s hearing. The wind noise beating around the rider’s head isn’t reduced much even when a helmet has added padding, vents, or other modifications.
Motorcyclists are often affected by a condition known as temporary threshold shift (TTS), which is triggered by 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. Initially, TTS sufferers might detect minor symptoms like a temporary decrease in hearing clarity. However, over time, this condition can advance to permanent and irreversible hearing loss.
Comparing wind volume with other noise levels
The German study sheds a lot of light on just how extreme wind noise can be while riding. At 62 mph, the wind around a biker’s head produces 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 exceeding 80 dB. This means that bikers riding at this speed without ear protection are exposed to volume levels nearly 19% higher than what is considered safe in a work environment.
As the speed goes up, so does the volume level. Hearing damage can occur after only 7 minutes of riding at 74 mph which generates wind volumes of 98 dB. Many studies confirm that bikers are indeed at substantial risk of irreversible hearing loss.
Safeguarding your ears
The good news is, it’s easy to safeguard your hearing with earplugs. Hearing specialists emphatically recommend utilizing filtered earplugs, which are far better than the old, uncomfortable versions most people are familiar with. 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 crucial sounds like sirens, horns, and human speech, which are critical for a biker’s safety.
Bikers are also able to get the complete experience of riding without feeling isolated or cut off from the outside 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 protecting 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 essential to acknowledge and mitigate the associated risks to your hearing. The wind noise produced at high speeds can cause substantial and permanent hearing damage in a very short time period. But bikers can safeguard their long-term hearing while still enjoying the ride by simply utilizing a pair of quality earplugs.
Stay on top of your hearing health by contacting us to talk about hearing protection.