Why I wear ear plugs or ear buds on EVERY ride

[frankenduck]

Motorcycle Facts

Most motorcyclists understand the effects of a "silent killer" which follows them every time they enjoy riding their bikes. Unfortunately, several people 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 degree.

Based on several research studies, the major contributor to hearing loss in the motorcycle industry remains the "silent killer" known as "wind noise." Generically 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. Constant duration of harmful level noises gradually force the rider into becoming another statistic of the "silent killer."

To put this in perspective, according to OSHA's regulation of industrial 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 reduced to two hours. When sound levels exceed 115dB, your exposure time is drastically reduced to 15 minutes. This puts riding a bike a whole other realm as "wind noise" at highway speeds can measure up to 103dB, or comparable to a running chainsaw. At these 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 healthcare professionals. TTS is caused by excessive noise exposure for a duration of time, which drops your actual acute hearing pattern to a lower level temporarily. Meaning, your 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.

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[WayneDW]

Thanks for that.
At age 56 I have hearing loss and a constant ringing in my ears. My life style is a triple threat. I work with power tools, I hunt and I ride motorcycles. I always wear ear plugs when working, wear them when sighting in a gun but not when hunting, only started wearing them while riding a couple of years ago. I inaccurately assumed that my helmet protected my ears as well as my brain.
But, fortunately, though I'll never recover what I've already lost, it's never too late to start being more consistent.

[argent brick]

Thanks for the post, Frankenduck.

As an army medic I spent lots of time on firing ranges.  M-16, M-60, 50 cal, etc. Hearing protection was not a huge issue when I first enlisted.  By the time I retired, protection was required on the ranges and worn in vehicles. Army studies have proven that under the right conditions a simple .22 cal. rifle or pistol can do more hearing damage than the larger caliber arms.

I now have a hearing loss that matches the tone of both my current and ex-wife's voices. My wife claims it is selective listening.

How about a posting about the different types and brands of protection for us Brickheads?

[frankenduck]

How about a posting about the different types and brands of protection for us Brickheads?

IMO, just about any ear plug is way better than nothing.  And there's so many brands and types out there.  Best bet is to try different ones and find something that's comfortable for you.

The other key is knowing how to insert them properly to get a good seal:

The trick to inserting a disposable foam plug is to gradually roll the plug between your fingers until it’s a small cylinder. Rolling it gradually tighter avoids trapping creases that you would feel while wearing. I suggest you wash your hands before rolling a plug, to keep them cleaner. The low pressure foam has some "mystery" chemistry that allows it to expand very slowly—say 10 seconds. That gives you time to get it inserted. When inserting an ear plug, it helps to grab the top of the ear (the "Pinna") with the opposite hand and pull up, to straighten your ear canal.

These days I usually wear some Flex ear buds from H20 Audio and listen to music while riding.

[Turkus]

How about a posting about the different types and brands of protection for us Brickheads?

IMO, just about any ear plug is way better than nothing.  And there's so many brands and types out there.  Best bet is to try different ones and find something that's comfortable for you.

The other key is knowing how to insert them properly to get a good seal:

 These days I usually wear some Flex ear buds from H20 Audio and listen to music while riding.

Huh ?? Whadja say ??  :hmm:

My hearing junk and has been for many, many years - too much rock n' roll, drag racing, flying, working, power tools, shooting, etc, etc, etc......the kicker was an explosion of balloons filled with oxy-acetylene back in my HS days - my hearing has gone down hill ever since.
The tinnitus that I suffer from wears me down on a long day's ride and I do get some relief from wearing earbuds, like Duck, to distract from the ringing in my ears. I think I'm one of the few that music (at low volume) doesn't drastically affect my ability on the moto, in fact quite the opposite as it keeps me a little looser (not quite so tense).
My current earbuds of choice are Etymotic ER-6is but they are no loner produced (dammit) they work almost too well - I can hear trucks and sirens and horns and such, just don't talk off to my side if I have them plugged in.....I'll never hear you.

Knowing the size of your ear canal is always a good thing - went on an impromptu shoot with some buddies while camping two years ago - my ear canal is EXACTLY .45ACP !!
One in each ear worked pretty damn well and a LOT better than cigarette butts... :hehehe

[rbm]

I'm suffering from tinnitus and have just borderline normal hearing at the moment (I tested it this week as a matter of fact).  I'm going to get custom fitted earplugs by Starkey (http://www.starkey.co.nz/products/hearing-protection/industrial.jsp).  These will be covered by my health insurance from work so that makes it worth it.

[Photog]

For anyone who has used both, how to disposable plugs compare to sound isolating earbuds? More noise, less, 'bout the same?

I've been using disposables, but have come to realize they are only good for 3 maybe 4 insertions, and after that don't seem to block the noise well (ymmv). And even fresh ones are sometimes hit or miss in getting them in correctly. So, I'm thinking either about a set of custom plugs or isolating ear buds that would let me listen to the iphone too.

[Turkus]

  So, I'm thinking either about a set of custom plugs

Make sure you bring your helmet when you get fitted for those plugs, check to see if your brain bucket doesn't rip them out of your ears while pulling it on.....

[frankenduck]

For anyone who has used both, how to disposable plugs compare to sound isolating earbuds? More noise, less, 'bout the same?

I'd go with 'bout the same. I think the most important part of the whole deal is getting something that seals in your ear canals well enough to block the low frequency wind noise that causes hearing damage.

I used to use JVC Marshmallow ear buds and they worked well but the issue was that every time I pulled my helmet off they'd get ripped out of my ears. (Not violently, but enough so that I'd have to reseat them repeatedly.) Since switching to the H2O Audio Flex ear buds that's much less of a problem.

The bottom line is that everyone's ear canals are different so you have to experiment a little and find out what works best for you.

[sh00ter]

Agree with duck, I try to wear on every ride

This company has a variety of products, they also set up booths at mc rally's and do custom fittings on the spot. 

http://www.earinc.com/

[TaosBrick]

Hmm... much more of an issue than I previously thought. I always wear a half lid, sometimes put in plugs for long trips. The windscreen on my K75 reduces wind noise and buffeting significantly, but obviously not enuf according to this article. Guess it's time to find something that works with my ipod - if I'm gonna have something stuffed in my ears all the time, there might as well be music coming from it.

[wmax351]

For anyone who has used both, how to disposable plugs compare to sound isolating earbuds? More noise, less, 'bout the same?

I'd go with 'bout the same. I think the most important part of the whole deal is getting something that seals in your ear canals well enough to block the low frequency wind noise that causes hearing damage.

I used to use JVC Marshmallow ear buds and they worked well but the issue was that every time I pulled my helmet off they'd get ripped out of my ears. (Not violently, but enough so that I'd have to reseat them repeatedly.) Since switching to the H2O Audio Flex ear buds that's much less of a problem.

The bottom line is that everyone's ear canals are different so you have to experiment a little and find out what works best for you.

Definitely a good point on the character of the noise. Its really pressure more than sound from the wind/buffeting. I wear some decent samsung earbuds that I found. Also has a mic, so I can make/answer calls without taking off my helmet. (Obviously not while riding  :loco: )