Car drivers with Open Roof Deaf Experiencing Risk

Driving a car with a retractable roof does make the rider look cool and be the center of attention. But Did you know that driving a car like that can cause hearing damage.

The experts warned that driving a car with an open roof which can cause serious disruption to the ear. Open roof car at 50 mph to 70 mph, or equal to 80 km / h to 112 km / hour can disrupt the ears due to sound generated by air movement or wind.

The specialist ear, nose and throat says that exposure to noise from engine, road, traffic and wind which occurs continuously can cause someone to lose his hearing permanently (deaf or deaf). Researchers suggested should open the roof of the car driver was using ear protection, as did the bikers.

In this study measured the noise level during the trip the driver at different speeds and the results have been published in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

If driving a car with a speed of 50 miles per hour, 60 miles / hour and 70 miles per hour, the resulting noise reaches 88 decibels to 90 decibels. These results means higher than the threshold limit has been agreed as the risk of permanent hearing damage in the amount of 85 decibels.

It also conducted tests on highways and roads outside rush hour, the results found the same noise level about 90 decibels with the highest level is 99 decibels.

Researchers add the open roof of a car driver can reduce noise by increasing the window while driving, this can reduce the noise level to 82 decibels.

"As a result of exposure to high noise levels may be only felt after a few years later, even if exposure occurred only a few hours," said Dr Mark Downs, from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, as quoted by the BBC, Wednesday (7/10/2009).

In comparison a quiet room at night the noise level of 20 decibels, normal conversation 60 decibels, a busy street 70 decibels, 80 decibels of people screaming and the plane took off 130 decibels. If you have a car with a retractable roof, we suggest you use ear protectors to avoid hearing damage later on.