One in six people is affected by hearing loss from exposure to prolonged loud noises and it is expected to be higher among motorcycle riders. While a vacuum cleaner emits about 65 decibels and causes no hearing loss, listening to headphone music is about 94dB and after one hour can cause hearing loss. However, riders can experience prolonged noise levels of more than 100dB which is about the same as being in a nightclub. It’s not actually exhaust or engine noise that causes the biggest problem, but wind noise, according to the American Industrial Paramedic Services. The turbulence generated at high speeds can reach 103dB. In Australia, about four million people have hearing loss, in the UK it’s 10 million and in the US, some 48 million have some form of hearing loss. While hearing loss is a part of the natural ageing process, it is increased by prolonged exposure to excessive noise and riders are more than likely to experience greater hearing losses in their senior years.

That’s why riders should have some form of hearing protection whenever they ride on long trips. We recommend Earmold earplugs which are individually shaped to your ear for a comfortable and complete fit to block noise. There are heaps of other earplugs out there as well, some with special filters and features such as Alpine MotoSafe. But any earplug is better than no earplugs. has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the damage that can be caused by excessive exposure to loud noise, following a successful campaign with endorsement from several rock music performers. Now they have endorsement from three AMA motorcycle racers, Corey Alexander, Melissa Paris and Jordan Imrie who says he has won four AMA Championships at Daytona wearing earplugs. Corey says he can’t ride on or off the track without ear plugs. “When I find a comfortable pair that works well it really makes my riding experience that much better, plus it keeps my ears safe.

Also, when I’m on the track it’s really important to be able to focus solely on the road ahead and not having tons of wind noise makes a world of difference.” Melissa, who in 2013 earned her season-best 10th place finish in the Daytona 200, says the noise-reduction effect of earplugs helps her focus and concentrate better when racing.Most motorcyclists understand the effects of a "silent killer" which follows them every time they enjoy riding their bikes. still believe the causes of hearing loss are due to how loud the bike sounds, and/or that it affects only the people who do not wear full shell helmets. This is true to a certain Based on several research studies, the major contributor to hearing loss in the motorcycle industry remains the "silent killer" known as "windGenerically termed as the amount of noise turbulence produced around the head while the rider is in motion. Its inherited consequences result in irreversible hearing loss damage over a period of time when adequate hearing protection is not worn.

Similar to the shooting and aviation industries, if this issue is not addressed correctly from the beginning the amount of exposure to the inner ear is compounded every time the rider ventures out on his/her bike for hours at a time. motorcycle dealers near watertown nyConstant duration of harmful levelmotorcycle shop leek noises gradually force the rider into becoming another statistic of the "silentmotorcycle electrical repairs johannesburg To put this in perspective, according to OSHA's regulation of industrialmotorcycle for sale in tuscaloosa al

noise exposure, an average worker surrounded by levels around 85-90dB for an eight hour day will not exceed the limits of exposure time within a 24 hour period of time. However, when the sound levels exceed 100dB, your exposure time is reducedmotorcycles for sale craigslist tucson arizonaWhen sound levels exceed 115dB, your exposure time is drastically reduced tomotorcycles for sale tamworthThis puts riding a bike a whole other realm as "wind noise" atmotorcycle clothing near telford highway speeds can measure up to 103dB, or comparable to a running chainsaw. levels the rider is not only fatiguing physically from the excess noise exposure, but it

also puts him into a position of needing a hearing aid later in life. Another common ailment of motorcycle riding is a condition known as "Temporary Threshold Shift," commonly referred to as TTS by audiologists and hearing healthcareTTS is caused by excessive noise exposure for a duration of time, which drops your actual acute hearing pattern to a lower level temporarily. hearing is less than what it was before the initial exposure. Continuous TTS exposure will result in permanent damage. Everyone has experienced this phenomenon at one time or another, whether it is from going to loud dance halls, or concerts, or even work. Even some of today's movie theatres can cause this to happen, but this is a specific certainty for motorcyclists who disregard adequate hearing protection while riding their bike. Riding position and style of windshield help in preventing "silent killers" ability to fully be experienced. But even the best helmets on today's marketplace provide

little help when considering "wind noise" levels at normal highway speeds. Obviously, this factor is increased in half shell models as well as skullcaps, but the common helmets used in today's marketplace are designed to fit entirely over the head providing a snug fit. These types of helmets have the best attenuation value (reduction in noise) regardless of any airflow modifications done to the outside. still produce wind noise readings of 110 to 116dB's, from 35mph to highway speeds. reflecting back to the comparison chart, 116dB will only be suitable for 15 minutes ofNot a lot of time to enjoy your hobby.... Although there are several versions of hearing protection devices on the market, a custom set of earmolds is still the best answer in suppressing sound. excellent attenuation values and are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. They can even be molded with high-grade transducers, which allow for stereo compatibility