Wearing Earplugs While Riding Your Motorcycle

As a motorcyclist, you need to be aware of many different types of safety hazards. You probably already have protective riding gear and you likely take precautions while riding in order to prevent an accident, but there's one hazard that's often overlooked: hearing loss. 

Just the sound of the wind alone while riding a motorcycle can cause hearing loss within 15 minutes. The longer your ride and the louder the environment in which you ride, the more likely it is that you will suffer from hearing loss without adequate hearing protection. Here are some guidelines for wearing earplugs while riding  your motorcycle so that you can protect your hearing, along with the rest of you

Why Wear Ear Plugs?

Wearing earplugs while riding a motorcycle may seem counterintuitive, as you may worry that you won't be able to hear surrounding traffic or other important sounds. However, earplugs don't block out every single sound; they just block out the higher decibel levels that can cause hearing loss.Think about construction workers and people who work in factories who are frequently exposed to very loud noises; these workers often wear hearing protection and it doesn't impede their job function to do so.

As you ride down the highway, your hearing starts to suffer after only 15 minutes. Once your motorcycle speed exceeds 25 miles per hour,l wind noise overtakes it. At 75 miles per hour, the noise of the wind can reach 100 decibels. This can cause permanent damage to your ears the longer you ride. 

Wearing earplugs designed for motorcyclists will block out wind noise, as well as some of your engine’ noise. In fact, wearing earplugs can actually help you hear sirens and other important noises better, since you won't have the wind distracting you. You can also experience mental fatigue from excess noise, which is why wearing earplugs is such a good idea.

Choosing the Right Type of Earplugs

There are four different kinds of earplugs on the market: wax, foam, motorcycle earplugs, and custom earplugs. Wax and foam ear plugs typically block out too much sound, which means that they're not safe. Also, these types of earplugs get dirty easily, which is not ideal when you're out and about. 

Motorcycle earplugs are open in the middle and have a filter that reduces wind noise without blocking out other sounds. These earplugs typically costs between 10 to $30 and they come on a keychain so that you don't lose them. 

Custom-made earplugs are created from a wax mold of your ears so that they fit in perfectly without causing irritation. This type will be the most expensive option and you'll also want to make sure that they have a motorcycle filter on them.

Keeping Earplugs Clean

If you're using custom or motorcycle earplugs, they can get dirty over time due to grease and sweat on your hands. Earwax build-up can also cause them to become dirty. In order to clean your earplugs, fill a bowl with some hot water and dish soap and soak your earplugs in them for a few minutes, then rinse them off and pat them dry. You can also use some rubbing alcohol to sanitize them.

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