The UK’s only tinnitus-specific charity is calling on more riders to get into the habit of using ear plugs to prevent permanent damage. Tinnitus UK say continuous exposure to noise of over 80 decibels risks damage. For context, that 80dB threshold is deemed safe in a work environment by the Heath & Safety Executive, while at anything over 85dB an employer should provide ear defenders.
“We’re just trying to remind people to use hearing protection in the same way that you put your helmet on,” Nic Wray of Tinnitus UK told MCN. “Because of the combination of bike noise, road noise, and wind noise, the sound levels will get up to a dangerous level very quickly.
“You might get away with it once or for a short part of a day, but if you’re out on your bike regularly, that damage can build up and it can’t be undone. You can lose some of your hearing and that can affect all aspects of your life.”
According to Tinnitus UK data, the combination of engine noise, road noise and wind turbulence are generally around 85-95dB at speeds up to 35mph, climbing to 110-116dB at 65mph. At these upper levels, hearing damage can occur in less than one minute.
Wray continued: “Our concern is people being left with tinnitus, which we know can have a massive impact. It can affect concentration, it can affect enjoyment of activities, it can affect your social life, and it can affect mood. Many people report anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of self-harm. It’s not a trivial thing.
“We’re not wanting people to stop doing what they enjoy… We just want people to do it safely and by using hearing protection, which is readily available.”
Erm, yes: I have constant, quite loud tinnitus, which is not great! This is due mainly to listening to Rock music too loud (often through headphones) & motorcycle wind noise. Apart from various disposable sets of plugs, I now own a couple of sets of reusable earplugs: Senner MotoPro silicone plugs & a custom set by Mercury & really need to use them EVERY ride. I need to consider them as PPE - just like putting on my gloves or helmet. I was told a while ago that the damage caused by tinnitus cannot be undone, the trick is to stop it getting worse...
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