Wrider wrote:
No bud I know all about the dB levels and such... I'm good friends with deaf people, and I have researched dB levels before. I have extremely sensitive hearing as well. I've been tested and can hear in most ranges from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which is considered the range for human hearing. I CANNOT stand really loud music in clubs and such, it physically hurts... So believe me that when I say my helmet blocks noise well I mean it.
Hi wrider
For what it is worth the research I'm aware of concludes that riding anything over 40mph for more than 15 minutes will start to damage hearing - but that actually depends a lot on other factors.
Like how noisy your lid is for instance. I wear Arais as they are the only helmets that fit me well enough to be comfortable for daily riding. Trouble is, they are bloody noisy, so I really need to wear plugs.
A lot also depends on personal susceptibility. Some people's hearing becomes harmed very quickly by persistent noise, others can tolerate a fair amount of it for years with no appreciable damage. The research is very general and depends on the notion of a dirty-grey average human being.
Some people can damage their hearing equally by wearing the squidgy type of plugs. Over time, the pressure these things put on the auditory canal can cause mild tissue damage and lead to persistent low-grade infections. These are hardly noticeable (often you get just a slight increase in ear wax) but over time they can cause real problems. Re-using unwashed plugs is nuts. It's really stacking up the odds on getting ear damage later in life. Once an infection has become established, you are constantly reinfecting yourself.
Custom plugs are usually safest - though they are not always the quietest . In my experience and that of other motorcyclists I talk to, a lot depends on how well they are made.
Is nothing about biking really safe??????
