Well, as far as you know..... (jk)

That's funny. It's nice to know that some people here still have a sense of humor. I wonder if it has anything to do with the cold weather up there where you live, assuming you live in Minnesota as per your username.

Hi All,

I know it's an old thread, but I thought this was relevant.

I started wearing these things called Cat-Ears that really help with the wind blast.
https://www.cat-ears.com/

I got one pair of the regulars and one pair of the big fluffy ones for another helmet.The fluffy ones work better.



Wind blast alone is enough to cause hearing damage. I read something on it when I was a motorcyclist. Even inside a full face helmet, consistent wind blast can screw your hearing up. I started wearing ear plugs inside my motorcycle helmet for any ride outside of town. When I started cycling a few years ago, I noticed that the wind noise when riding on a windy day with ears open to the wind is worse than un-plugged ears inside a full face motorcycle helmet at higher speed and made the extrapolation that I would damage my hearing if I didn't take action.

Sure enough, I noticed a lot of the older riders in my club wear hearing aids. That's not necessarily a causal relationship, but one not to be ignored either.

When I'm riding on a windy day, I wear ear plugs AND the Cat-Ears. I can still hear cars approaching and such, it's just that the white noise of the wind is muffled. I strongly recommend that product, with no affiliation.

P.S. my wife has tinnitus. She's only 46, but got some ear infection after COVID that gave her the permanent tinnitus. I think it might be genetic, as her daughter and mother all speak super-loudly. Her mom's getting hearing aids soon.

P.P.S. - Funny story: I was out riding with my bike club one Saturday afternoon, another big group of roadies were coming the other way. We all waved but didn't really have time to see who the others were, without a chance to look closer. When we were just about done passing each other, one guy from the other group shouted my name. I had no idea who he was until I heard his voice, but then I knew him. He's from a neighboring club and I'd ridden with him a few times. He said: "Do you know how I recognized you?" → "By my excellent riding form, no doubt." said I. → "Those fluffy things you wear on your ears; no one else I know wears them!"

I have tinnitus for 25 years, be 26 next month. Noticed it the same time frame I had a required employment physical which included a hearing test. After the test, the audiologist questioned me about being left handed and asked if I fired guns a lot, both were true. She explained I had pretty good hearing but there was a loss at a range specific to gun fire. There was more loss in my left ear as compared to the right which she attributed to me holding a gun in mostly in my left hand. I continue to have yearly hearing tests which are fine. I’ve learned to ignore the noise and life moves on.

Sound machine helps me, constant hum of a big fan, but the machine I use has a timer. If I'm still awake after 45 minutes (the timer) I'll take a Benadryl, puts me to sleep. I used to listen to rolling waves on a beach, whatever works.

Sleeping near a river works also. Wish I had a van...

20 years of loud machinery in the military left me with constant tinnitus and worsening hearing loss. When the loss got bad enough I went to the VA and got Hearing AIDS. Not only is my hearing drastically improved but the tinnitus is all but gone. Sitting in the sunroom early in the morning the slightest whistle will start, but it is far less than before.
BTW: For you veterans your hearing loss and/or tinnitus does NOT to be service connected to qualify for hearing aids from the VA.