Do you enjoy dirt biking or motocross? These activities provide an excellent opportunity to get outside, socialize and most importantly, get that adrenaline rush. As hearing health professionals, we want to discuss the hearing risks of these activities and how you can protect your hearing.
Hearing Hazards on the Track
There are two major hazards to hearing while you’re biking: engine noise and wind noise.
Engine noise is the more obvious of the two: part of the thrill of motocross is the sound of the bike’s engine. At 80 to 110 decibels, dirt bike engine noise is loud enough to cause significant hearing damage.
The other hazard is wind noise, which many people don’t realize is a threat. Flying down the track on your bike means the air is whooshing past your ears at the same speed. Moreover, the type of helmet you wear can create turbulence, or small whirlpools of air that cycle at even higher speeds under your helmet and around your ears. The faster you go, the louder the air whooshes.
Another factor is the continuous nature of the noise. The steady noise as you complete the track or ride down the trail can do cumulative major damage to the inner structures of your ears.
How to Protect Your Hearing
Hearing protection is a must when you’re dealing with sounds at or above 90 decibels. There are a few options:
- Disposable foam earplugs. These are inexpensive and widely available, fit easily under your helmet and, when inserted properly, are highly effective. However, it can be easy to insert them improperly, at which point they block significantly less sound.
- Custom-molded earplugs. No danger of inserting these improperly; custom-molded earplugs are made from a mold taken of your ear canal, so they fit you perfectly. Like foam earplugs, they’ll fit under your helmet, and they’re comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
You should also carefully consider what type of helmet you wear. If air can get under your helmet and around your ears, you’re going to get wind noise. Minimize the amount of air that reaches your face by prioritizing:
- Aerodynamic design
- Lightweight shell
- Full-face rather than open-face helmets
- Padding
- Chin guard
- Neck roll
If Hearing Damage Occurs
If you notice any changes to your hearing—tinnitus, muffled sounds, difficulty understanding people talking—then consider seeing an audiologist to see if hearing damage has occurred. Call North Alabama ENT Associates today to learn more about hearing damage or to schedule an appointment.