Convertibles are a sure consequence of spring fever, but what about the risk they pose to hearing loss?

Hawkesbury, Ontario, April, 2010: A recent study lead by Dr. Philip Michael, of the Worcestershire
Royal Hospital in the U.K., reveals a link between driving in a convertible and the possibility of experiencing hearing loss.

At the root of the study is the commonly held belief that being exposed to 85 decibels of sound for long periods of time can cause potential hearing loss. Dr. Michael has taken this bottom line and applied it to the use of convertibles. His research indicated that when we drive at 70 mph with the top down, the noise level reached is approximately 89 decibels. The study further emphasized that it wasn't the noise alone which can cause health problems, but rather a combination of loudness and length of time exposed to loud noises.

At a conference held by the American Academy of Otolaryngology in San Diego, the study's lead author explained that the main "problem is highway driving... It's a high speed environment. Back country roads, where the car's velocity is much lower, doesn't present as much of a danger." He also suggested driving with the windows up; "If you have the top down and put up the window, it [sound level] drops to an average of 84 decibels in four of the seven test cars."

The study measured the noise exposure to a lone driver's right ear and roadside ear for one minute with a sound level meter. The test cars were the Toyota MR2, Mazda Miata MX5, Audi A4 Cabriolet, Morgan plus 4 Roadster, Porsche 997 Carrera, Aston Martin V-8 Vantage, and the Bentley convertible.

Lifestyle Hearing continues to emphasize the importance of having your hearing tested on an annual basis, especially if you're regularly exposed to loud noises. For more news on hearing healthcare please visit www.lifestylehearing.ca.