Hearing Loss & Motorcycling

Published by: 2Wheeltips on 16th Sep 2010 | View all blogs by 2Wheeltips

Ever wonder why your ears ring, you have a headache or you feel "fuzzy" or tired after a long ride? Ever notice at most motorcycle rallies you see many riders wearing not one but two hearing aids? Well....now you are about to find out.

Some of you are probably thinking it has something to do with loud engines or loud pipes. If you did, you are partially correct. A bigger part of it is wind noise. That ear ringing, fuzzy feeling, headache is from the loud noise. In fact, at highway speeds (50mph+) the sound of the wind rushing past your ears is louder than the engine. How loud is the wind noise? Close to that of a chainsaw! Seriously.

Now think about riding around month after month, year after year with a chainsaw blasting in your ears. What do you think will happen to your hearing? Nothing good. People who work in high noise environments know this already:

             1. Factory workers use hearing protection
             2. The guy cutting your grass wears hearing protection
             3. Airline luggage handlers use hearing protection
             4. If you go to a gun range, you must use hearing protection
             5. Motorcyclists? (birds and crickets chirping)

For motorcyclists the solution is very simple, buy foam earplugs. They are about $0.09 - $0.11 a piece so there is really no excuse not use them. You can find them in most drug stores or at the local Lowe's or Home Depot. Just make sure they have a NRR (noise reduction rating) of 25 or more. The NRR is printed on the packaging.

Here are more articles on this topic from Dr. Melissa Heche AuD who wrote a 2wheeltips column on motorcycling and hearing.
/magazine/tag/hearing loss

Comments

2 Comments

by GoldwingRon 3 months ago

Just a note for those who hate wearing ear plugs or suffer from constant ear infections. Drug stores sell wax seals for your ears. They are usually used for swimming but they have a reasonable decibel reduction rating and are not placed in the ear canal but rather are formed over the opening. The work very well, I have used them in the past.
by Carol 3 months ago

Good point, GoldwingRon! I have to point out for people who are new to disposable earplugs that they are just that: disposable. Do not expect to wear one pair of them for more than several hours. They are clean when you take them out of the package but they will not be clean once you take them out of your ears! They are not made to be washed, either. I strongly recommend purchasing them by the box (you can find lots of suppliers on the internet), thus reducing the unit price significantly. And DO pay attention to the NRR (noise reduction rating) and the fact that not all disposables will fit your ear canal well. There are a number of suppliers online who offer packages of a variety of good quality disposable earplugs. From that variety package, you can then find the specific manufacturer and model of the plugs that fit your ear canals best. Don't focus on scrimping and saving when it comes to your hearing...once it's gone, it's gone for good!

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