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Last updated 16 Aug 2003

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Straits Times
Life!

JUL 1 2000

Protect your ears while riding

TIP OF THE WEEK

HAVE you heard? Riding a motorcycle over long distances can lead to hearing loss.

Although crash helmets provide some degree of protection for your ears, some tests have measured wind noise to be more than 100 decibels at speeds as low as 100 kmh, even with a full-face helmet on a rider's head.

That is as loud as a powerful stereo system with the volume turned up above the half-way mark.

Exposure to that much noise for as short as two hours can lead to permanent, cumulative hearing damage.

And since wind noise occurs at roughly the same frequencies as speech, the hearing loss from extended bike riding means that you may have trouble using the telephone, following the dialogue in a movie, or just keeping up with conversation. <br><br>If you are taking off on a motorcycle tour, or have to ride for hours every day, you should wear ear plugs to protect your hearing.

The cheap, soft foam kind should do the trick. They cut down excessive noise but still allow you to hear other traffic.

If you have a naggy wife who likes to ride with you, so much the better.

And even if you find earplugs awkward and uncomfortable at first, getting used to them will mean that biking will not cost you your hearing some day.

This is sound advice that should not fall on deaf ears.

• reduce bug-chewing (insects in your face or visor)
• reduce wind buffetting (deflect wind from hitting body too hard)
• reduce wind noise (deflect wind away from helmet/head and not go deaf!)
• improve overall rider comfort

But even with windshields, one should still carry several pairs of earplugs, especially on long rides in Malaysia. You will not regret it!

Cylindrical sponge-type ear plugs can be obtained from most large pharmacies (Guardian, Apex, etc.) for a couple of dollars for 3 pairs. These are cheap, disposable and reasonably effective (typically -20 dB sound reduction)